Bangladesh, South Korea hold second round of CEPA talks in Dhaka
South Korea and Bangladesh on Monday began a second round of negotiations in Dhaka for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), officials said, following an initial round of talks held in Seoul in August 2025.
Officials said the discussions will focus on wider economic cooperation, including investment, services, technology transfer, supply chains and people-to-people exchanges, according to the Korea Times.
South Korea is pursuing the CEPA as part of its broader strategy to diversify trade partnerships and strengthen its footprint in Southwest Asia at a time of continued volatility in global trade and geopolitics. Bangladesh has emerged as a priority partner due to its large domestic market, expanding middle class and sustained economic growth.
Bangladesh, the world’s eighth-most populous country, has been attracting growing foreign investment in sectors such as manufacturing, electronics, energy and infrastructure. Officials familiar with the talks said a CEPA could help remove regulatory barriers, improve market access and provide stronger protection for investors from both sides.
For South Korean companies, the agreement is expected to ease entry into Bangladesh’s market and support participation in major development projects, while Bangladeshi exporters could benefit from improved access to South Korea and integration into regional value chains.
Both sides expressed optimism that the latest round would narrow differences and lay the groundwork for a mutually beneficial agreement, reinforcing long-term economic cooperation between Dhaka and Seoul.
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