Public Consultation on the Bangladesh-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (BDSFTA)

Closed on 19 Sep 2025

1. Introduction

1.1 The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) is seeking feedback on the priorities, opportunities, and challenges that Singapore companies face in their trade and investment with Bangladesh. Your feedback could be incorporated into the proposed Bangladesh-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (BDSFTA) and allow us to better support Singapore businesses trading with or investing into Bangladesh. The public consultation period is from 25 August to 19 September 2025.

2. Background

2.1 Bangladesh and Singapore signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Trade and Investment (MCTI) in November 2022. The MCTI sets out the scope for the deepening of Bangladesh-Singapore economic relations, including discussions on a prospective Free Trade Agreement.

2.2 The Bangladesh-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (BDSFTA) is expected to contribute to the expansion of two-way trade and investment flows between Bangladesh and Singapore. First, we aim to reduce tariffs that will lower the cost of exporting goods from Singapore to Bangladesh. Second, we aim to improve trade processes such as custom practices to facilitate the movement of goods and services across borders. Third, we aim to enhance market access between both countries, so that business on both sides can better tap into opportunities in both Bangladesh and Singapore. Fourth, we aim to offer stronger protection for Singapore companies’ investments in Bangladesh, and vice versa. These changes, among others, will make it easier for companies from both countries to do business with each other and grow their markets.

3. Invitation to Provide Feedback

3.1 MTI invites Singapore-registered businesses and members of the public to provide feedback on issues relating to Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, Investment, and Government Procurement, among others.

3.2 Feedback on the various aspects above would be helpful to guide the negotiating objectives of the BDSFTA. Feedback has been closed on 19 September 2025. Thank you for participating.

3.3 Please note that all submissions received may be published and attributed to the respective respondents unless they expressly request MTI not to do so. As such, if respondents would like: (i) their whole submission, or part of it; or (ii) their identity; or both, to be kept confidential, please state so in the submission. In addition, MTI reserves the right not to publish any submissions received where MTI considers it not in the public’s interest to do so, such as if the submission appears to be libellous or offensive.