Bangladesh and South Korea are exploring ways to boost bilateral trade, currently under $2 billion annually, with hopes that a future Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) could expand opportunities. In FY2025, Bangladesh exported $492 million to South Korea, while imports reached $902 million in FY2023. Officials emphasized aligning Bangladesh’s labor and export policies, improving port efficiency, and strengthening business-to-business links. In parallel, the Dhaka Stock Exchange saw strong activity, with the DSEX index rising 54 points to 5,116 and turnover hitting Tk734 crore—the highest in nearly eight months—driven by notable performances from Sea Pearl Beach Resort, Prime Insurance, and GQ Ball Pen.
"South Korea is a promising market for Bangladeshi apparel exports and offers ample opportunities for mutually beneficial trade," Babu stated.
Both parties expressed hope that a future Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) could significantly boost bilateral trade, which currently remains under $2 billion annually.
According to data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and Bangladesh Bank (BB), Bangladesh exported $492 million worth of goods to South Korea in FY2025, while imports from South Korea totaled $902 million in FY2023.
Ambassador Park highlighted the importance of aligning Bangladesh's Export Processing Zones Act 2019 with the Labour Act 2006 to create a more favorable investment environment. He also emphasized the need to enhance labor productivity and improve efficiency at Chattogram Port to streamline trade operations.
The BGMEA leadership called for greater market intelligence sharing and stronger business-to-business links between Bangladeshi and South Korean enterprises.
The meeting was attended by BGMEA Vice President Md Shehab Udduza Chowdhury, other industry leaders, and South Korean trade officials.
Stocks rallied on Wednesday, with the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) turnover crossing the Tk700 crore mark for the first time in eight months.
The benchmark DSEX index climbed 54 points to settle at 5,116, while the blue-chip DS30 rose by 29 points to close at 1,920.
Among the traded issues, 267 advanced, 79 declined, and 51 remained unchanged.
Turnover on the DSE surged by 12% to Tk734 crore—marking the highest level since 5 November last year, when it reached Tk839 crore.
Sea Pearl Beach Resort topped the turnover chart, Prime Insurance led the gainers, and GQ Ball Pen was the day’s worst performer.
