Commerce minister proposes Chattogram-Kunming road, cargo flights and joint research centre
Photo: Collected
Bangladesh has put forward a set of proposals to deepen cooperation with China’s Yunnan province in the trade, investment, agriculture, energy and technology sectors. Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has proposed building a direct road network from Chattogram through Myanmar to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, as well as expanding cargo air links, introducing bonded warehouse facilities and establishing a joint research centre in the jute sector.
He presented these proposals at a meeting with a high-level delegation from China’s Yunnan province, now visiting Dhaka, at the conference room of the commerce ministry at the Secretariat on Sunday. The delegation was led by Yunnan’s Executive Vice Governor Zhao Junmin.
At the meeting, the commerce minister said that if an effective road communication system of about 1,200 kilometres from Chattogram through Myanmar to Kunming can be built, an opportunity to transport goods within just 24 hours could be created. This would reduce transport costs and make regional trade and the supply system among Bangladesh, Myanmar and south-west China more dynamic.
Describing Yunnan as a promising market for Bangladesh, he said it is possible to increase Bangladesh’s exports there significantly by making use of the advantage of geographical proximity. He stressed the quick implementation of the proposed free bonded warehouse and exhibition facilities to ease the entry of Bangladeshi products into this market of around 46.4 million people.
The meeting was told that bilateral trade between Yunnan and Bangladesh exceeded 1.3 billion yuan in 2025, which highlights the growing importance of economic relations between the two regions.
Executive Vice Governor Zhao Junmin said Bangladesh is the first among South Asian countries to come under Yunnan’s special trade facilitation policy. Under this, initiatives have been taken to provide bonded warehouses, exhibition centres and various customs-related facilities for Bangladeshi products, which will be implemented quickly.
He said a venue has been selected in Yunnan for displaying Bangladeshi products under the memorandum of understanding signed between Yunnan’s commerce department and Bangladesh’s Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). He called on Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to come forward to make use of this opportunity.
The issue of expanding direct cargo air links also received importance at the meeting. The potential for exporting jute and jute goods, leather goods, frozen fish, fruits and other agricultural products from Bangladesh to Yunnan, as well as importing flowers, fertiliser and animal feed from Yunnan, was discussed. Those concerned said new potential would be created in the trade of highly perishable agricultural products, especially if direct cargo air links are launched with Bangladesh’s north-eastern region.
The commerce minister also proposed establishing a joint research centre to improve the productivity and quality of Bangladesh’s jute sector. Alongside this, he stressed increasing cooperation between public and private organisations of the two regions in the energy, e-commerce and technology sectors.
Calling for the expansion of Chinese investment in Bangladesh, the commerce minister specifically invited Yunnan’s women entrepreneurs to explore investment opportunities in Bangladesh. He said an initiative has been taken to transform the old jail area in Sylhet into a modern park. In this regard, he sought the cooperation of the Yunnan authorities to make use of Kunming’s experience in modern park management.
In response, Zhao Junmin described Bangladesh’s proposals as positive. He expressed interest in further strengthening cooperation between the two sides in trade, investment, connectivity, agriculture and other promising sectors.
Commerce Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen and senior officials of the commerce ministry and the Chinese embassy were present at the meeting.
