Finland holds bilateral consultations with Bangladesh in Dhaka: exploring areas for deeper collaboration including in trade and investment
Finland and Bangladesh held the fourth round of Bilateral Consultations on 08 April 2025 in Dhaka. The Finnish delegation was led by Mr. Jarno Syrjälä, Under-Secretary of State for International Trade, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, and Ambassador Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, Secretary (East), Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the Bangladesh delegation. The meeting concluded with expressing shared commitment to fostering a long-lasting and mutually beneficial bilateral relationship while promoting peace, prosperity and well-being for the people of the two countries.
In his opening remarks, Under-Secretary of State Mr. Syrjälä emphasized the Finnish Government’s support for the efforts of the interim government to implement reforms and strive towards an open and inclusive democracy. Human rights, rule of law and democracy are fundamental cornerstones for an inclusive and sustainable development of any society.
During the consultations, the two sides expressed satisfaction over the current state of bilateral relations and reiterated their commitment to deepening cooperation in diverse areas of mutual interest. Both parties acknowledged the potential for increased trade and investment. They agreed to explore opportunities to facilitate business partnerships and encourage Finnish enterprises to invest in Bangladesh.
Both sides further committed to strengthening collaboration on addressing climate change, with a focus on renewable energy solutions, resource efficiency, sustainable agriculture and technology transfer. The Finnish side expressed interest in enhancing cooperation in the areas of waste management, waste to energy, water treatment and circular economy.
Bangladesh’s graduation from the LDC category (due at the end of 2026) and ongoing negotiations on an upgraded Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Bangladesh were also discussed. The Finnish side showed support for the PCA negotiations and encouraged Bangladesh to focus on fulfilling the obligations of international conventions in line with requirements regarding a transition from the EU’s EBA-system to the GSP+ arrangement.
The two parties expressed interest in promoting mutual understanding through cultural exchanges, academic collaborations, skills development and people-to-people connections.
The discussions also included an exchange of views on key regional and global issues, including Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Gaza crisis and the Indo-Pacific. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on various multilateral issues, while upholding international law and promoting a rules-based international order.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the consultations and agreed to hold the next round at a mutually convenient time.
Finland’s official visit to Dhaka included an 8-member Finnish business delegation with representatives from various fields, including sustainable construction, energy, digitalization, and industrial solutions. The companies included Coolbrook, Elematic, Konecranes, Mirasys, Routa Digital, Wirepas and Wärtsilä. Among other engagements, the business delegation attends the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025.
