The United Nations Development Programme said it wants to strengthen cooperation with Bangladesh to attract investment, ease business and trade procedures, reduce logistics costs and build the capacity of micro, small and medium enterprises. The issues were discussed on Sunday, 30 August, at a meeting in the Secretariat between Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and UNDP Bangladesh Resident Representative Stefan Rodriques.

UNDP said Bangladesh’s investment potential is increasing and stressed the need to use that opportunity while strengthening local businesses and ensuring environmental and social standards. The minister said the government has taken measures to simplify business licensing and approval processes, reducing some procedures from about three months to within two weeks. He said further steps would be taken to make the processes simpler, faster and more effective.

The meeting also addressed reducing high logistics costs and improving efficiency in port and terminal management. UNDP expressed interest in helping link smaller firms to global supply chains, make them export-oriented, reduce unnecessary customs delays, and strengthen Bangladesh’s trade-negotiation capacity through training, tools and international experience sharing. Rodriques said UNDP support would be realigned with government priorities for jobs, growth and economic diversification.