Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have agreed to enhance investment ties and explore port connectivity projects as part of a broader effort to strengthen bilateral cooperation, following the fourth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in Colombo on Thursday.
The meeting — convened after an eight-year gap — was co-chaired by the Foreign Secretaries of both nations and served as a platform to review the full spectrum of bilateral relations while identifying new areas of collaboration.
Discussions covered a wide range of topics including trade, investment, connectivity, defence, tourism, education, agriculture, fisheries, youth development, culture, health, digital innovation, and people-to-people exchanges.
Sri Lanka highlighted its existing investments and vibrant diaspora presence in Bangladesh, inviting Bangladeshi investors to explore opportunities in infrastructure, logistics, agriculture, and tourism-related ventures. Bangladesh, in turn, encouraged Sri Lankan investment in its export processing zones, special economic zones, and API industrial parks, with a focus on high-potential sectors such as pharmaceuticals, hospitality, ICT, renewable energy, agro-processing, automobiles, and leather industries.
Both sides underscored the need to facilitate trade by streamlining regulatory processes, particularly for pharmaceutical product registration, and by advancing the work of the Trade Negotiating Committee and the Joint Working Group on Trade and Shipping. They also stressed the importance of private-sector engagement in driving economic cooperation.
Connectivity and shipping emerged as key priorities, with discussions centered on establishing direct port links between Chattogram and Colombo. Tourism cooperation was another focal point — Sri Lanka proposed initiatives to promote green tourism, while Bangladesh suggested developing joint tourism circuits highlighting tea and Buddhist heritage sites.
