Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong will pay a two-day state visit to Bangladesh and will emphasise the significance of development, peace, and stability in the Indian Ocean area.
Talks during the visit would mostly focus on resolving the Rohingya issue and enhancing bilateral trade relations.
Penny Wong announced her plan to advance Australia’s interests in promoting a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indian Ocean area in a statement issued by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs this afternoon. She is visiting Bangladesh for the first time on official business.
“I look forward to discussing these critical issues with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, and other members of the Bangladeshi Government during my time in Dhaka,” said Penny Wong.
Bangladesh has been able to improve trade connections with China while navigating political challenges from the West because of its well-balanced Indo-Pacific strategy, which was unveiled in April 2023.
Penny Wong underscored in the statement the significance of strengthening collaboration between Australia and Bangladesh, specifically in the areas of trade, investment, climate change mitigation, regional maritime security, and countering people smuggling.
She stated that there are over 50,000 people in Australia who were born in Bangladesh, demonstrating the strong people-to-people ties between the two nations.
Australia has been importing garments from Bangladesh, and trade and exports between Bangladesh and Australia have increased recently.
Bilateral trade now amounts to approximately US $ 4 billion, with Bangladesh exporting garments, textiles, and fertiliser to Australia, while Australia exports vegetables, wheat, dairy products, minerals, and plastics to Bangladesh.
Syed Moazzam Hossain, president of The Australia Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ABCCI), highlighted that while the trade relationship between Bangladesh and Australia was previously based on mutual needs without any special initiatives, Australia is now keen to prioritise Bangladesh.
The primary beneficiaries of this change are Thailand and Malaysia, as Australia is said to have diverted investment away from China, its biggest trading partner. The current visit is important from a bilateral perspective since Bangladesh stands to gain from this chance.
Syed Moazzam added that importing energy-related goods and resources would be a good idea from Australia.
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
