Bangladesh, Kuwait agree to boost economic, defence ties

Bangladesh and Kuwait have agreed to strengthen cooperation in political, economic, defence, labour, development, and cultural fields.

Both sides expressed their interest during the first-ever political consultation between the countries held in Dhaka on Sunday.

The meeting was co-chaired by Md Nazrul Islam, secretary (bilateral), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, and Ambassador Sameeh Essa Johar Hayat, assistant foreign minister of Kuwait for Asian affairs, read a joint press statement.

The consultations were held in a warm and friendly atmosphere, reaffirming the historic friendship that began with Kuwait’s early recognition of Bangladesh in 1973 and support for its OIC membership in 1974.

It was decided to hold political consultations biennially, alternately in Dhaka and Kuwait City, and to promote high-level visits and exchanges among officials, business communities, and cultural representatives.

The two sides reviewed defence cooperation, noting Bangladesh’s contribution under Operation Kuwait Punargathan, and agreed to enhance collaboration in training, disaster response, and cybersecurity.

They discussed expanding the manpower cooperation, finalising pending memorandums of understanding (MoUs), in line with Kuwait Vision 2035.

They stressed the importance of enhancing trade and investment, especially in energy, infrastructure, ICT, and halal food sectors.

Bangladesh invited Kuwaiti investors to explore opportunities in special economic zones and hi-tech parks. They agreed to reactivate the Joint Trade Committee and convene a Bangladesh-Kuwait Business Forum in 2026.

The meeting expressed satisfaction over Kuwait Fund (KFAED) assistance and agreed to explore new cooperation in renewable energy, climate-resilient infrastructure, and aviation connectivity, read the statement.

Both sides emphasised the importance of education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, including an MoU between the Bangladesh Foreign Service Academy and the Kuwait Diplomatic Institute, and agreed to expedite the diplomatic plot exchange process.

They reaffirmed cooperation in multilateral fora, including the UN and OIC, and Bangladesh expressed appreciation for Kuwait’s support to the Rohingya humanitarian response. Bangladesh also reaffirmed support for Kuwait’s candidatures to UNESCO, UNHRC, and IAEA.

The consultations reflected the shared commitment of the two countries to build a comprehensive, forward-looking partnership, guided by mutual respect and a shared vision for sustainable development under Kuwait Vision 2035.