The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry urged direct business contact and joint investment between Bangladeshi and Chinese entrepreneurs to reduce Bangladesh’s trade deficit with China. FBCCI Administrator Md Fazlul Hoque made the call at a meeting with a business delegation from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade at the federation’s Motijheel office on Monday afternoon, August 17, 2026.

Hoque said Bangladesh imports a large volume of goods from China. Bilateral trade between the two countries is close to $20 billion, but Bangladesh faces a substantial trade deficit, while its annual exports to China are valued at less than $1 billion. He called for identifying promising sectors for joint trade and said the Chinese delegation’s visit could expand bilateral trade, raise Bangladeshi export prospects in China, and support increased investment.

Bangladeshi business representatives invited joint investment in food processing, medical devices and accessories, pharmaceuticals and APIs, renewable energy, jute, and jute products. He Tao, director of the Bureau of Commerce of China’s Honghe region, expressed interest in increasing bilateral trade and investment, citing easier import-export procedures and new business opportunities as key goals.