Pakistan targets $3b export boost to Bangladesh
Pakistan is setting ambitious goals to expand its trade footprint in Bangladesh, aiming to raise exports from the current $800 million to $3 billion within the next few years.
The announcement signals Islamabad’s renewed push to strengthen economic ties with Dhaka after decades of political unease.
The target was unveiled by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) during the 48th DyeChem Bangladesh 2025 Expo in Dhaka, a key international trade fair for textile and chemical industries. FPCCI Senior Vice President Saquib Fayyaz Magoon and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider jointly inaugurated the Pakistan Pavilion, underscoring the country’s intent to expand its presence in Bangladesh’s booming textile sector.
“Pakistan’s exports to Bangladesh can be enhanced to $3 billion within a couple of years, with medium-term potential reaching as high as $5 to $7 billion,” the FPCCI said in a statement. Magoon noted that the expo serves as a direct gateway into Bangladesh’s $47 billion textile and apparel industry, which has grown into one of the world’s largest and most dynamic manufacturing hubs.
Bangladesh, often dubbed a global textile powerhouse, imports a wide range of dyestuffs, textile chemicals, and raw materials—products in which Pakistan sees strong opportunities for expansion. High Commissioner Haider assured that Islamabad would provide all necessary diplomatic and logistical support to Pakistani exporters looking to carve out a larger share of the Bangladeshi market.
Relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh, historically strained since the 1971 war, have begun to warm. A breakthrough came in August when Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar visited Dhaka, marking one of the highest-level trips in years.
The shift also follows dramatic political changes in Bangladesh. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country after a student-led uprising in August 2024, taking asylum in India. Her departure opened the door for Dhaka to recalibrate its foreign policy, which in turn created space for closer engagement with Pakistan.
Meanwhile, ties between Bangladesh and India have grown more complicated, giving Islamabad an opportunity to deepen economic and diplomatic cooperation with Dhaka. The two countries launched direct sea trade routes in 2024 and have since expanded government-to-government commerce, laying the foundation for what Pakistani officials hope will become a robust and stable partnership.
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