The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Russia’s Federal Agency on Technical Regulating and Metrology (GOST R) to strengthen cooperation in standardisation, technical regulation, and metrology. The agreement, signed in Dhaka, focuses on developing national standards, enhancing quality control, and aligning regulatory practices to facilitate smoother trade and reduce technical barriers. It includes joint efforts in conformity assessment, calibration, and testing. High-level officials from both countries attended the ceremony. The MoU is expected to boost Bangladesh’s product quality, international compliance, and bilateral economic ties with Russia.
BSTI Signs MoU with Russia’s GOST R to Enhance Standards and Quality Cooperation
The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has signed a landmark memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Federal Agency on Technical Regulating and Metrology of Russia (GOST R), marking a new chapter in bilateral cooperation in the fields of standardisation, technical regulation, and metrology.
The MoU, signed at BSTI headquarters in Dhaka's Tejgaon on Wednesday, aims to foster closer collaboration between the two nations in developing national standards, enhancing quality control frameworks, and aligning regulatory practices. SM Ferdous Alam, Director General (Grade-1) of BSTI, and Anton Shalaev, Chief Executive of GOST R, formalised the agreement on behalf of their respective institutions.
According to a press release issued by BSTI, the agreement underscores a mutual commitment to strengthening bilateral ties through the exchange of expertise, capacity building, and joint technical programs related to conformity assessment, calibration, and testing procedures.
The signing ceremony was attended by several high-level dignitaries, including Maksura Noor, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Industries; Ekaterina Semenova, Minister-Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in Dhaka; and Md Mosharraf Hossain, Director General of the Eastern Europe and CIS Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Md Hafizur Rahman, Administrator of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), also participated in the event, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Industries, Foreign Affairs, BSTI, and the Russian embassy.
Officials noted that the agreement would not only strengthen regulatory alignment between Bangladesh and Russia but also facilitate smoother trade flows by reducing technical barriers. It is expected to pave the way for increased recognition of standards and certifications, benefiting exporters and manufacturers from both countries.
This MoU comes at a time when Bangladesh is intensifying efforts to enhance the quality and competitiveness of its industrial and consumer products in global markets. Enhanced collaboration with a long-standing partner like Russia in the field of metrology and standardisation is seen as a key step toward meeting international compliance benchmarks and boosting bilateral economic engagement.
