Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions she had with her counterpart in the Bangladeshi Government on increasing trade between the UK and Bangladesh.

The department recognises and promotes the opportunities that Bangladesh presents to UK exporters.

My noble Friend Lord Ahmad, Minister of State for the Commonwealth, UN and South Asia, spoke most recently at the reception to mark the launch of the first international Bangladesh Taka-denominated “Bangla” bonds on the London Stock Exchange, highlighting opportunities and benefits of furthering mutual work on UK-Bangladesh trade promotion.

Significant discussions on trade promotion are also held at the annual UK-Bangladesh Strategic Dialogue, most recently led by the Bangladesh Foreign Secretary MD Shahidul Haque and the Permanent Under-Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sir Simon McDonald.