Bangladesh and Argentina are exploring avenues to deepen their trade relationship, with a particular focus on garments and cotton sectors. Marcelo Carlos Cesa, the Argentine ambassador to Bangladesh, emphasised the significant potential for collaboration in these industries during a visit to the International Chamber of Commerce – Bangladesh (ICCB) headquarters in Dhaka.
Ambassador Cesa highlighted the importance of establishing joint ventures and increased bilateral cooperation, advocating for targeted delegations from both nations’ business and government sectors. He called for sustained engagement to identify new opportunities in trade, investment, and sector-specific collaborations, especially in garments and cotton trade.
Since reopening its embassy in Dhaka earlier this year, Argentina has observed tremendous potential in Bangladesh’s market. The ambassador stressed that high-level exchange visits could accelerate cooperation in export-import activities and foreign direct investment, particularly in sectors like textiles and cotton.
ICCB President Mahbubur Rahman acknowledged Argentina’s growing importance within Bangladesh’s strategy for trade diversification. He recalled a 2019 visit by Argentina’s former Secretary for Agroindustry, Luis Miguel Etchevehere, which laid the foundation for future collaboration in agriculture and agro-processing.
The bilateral trade between the two countries stood at US $ 765 million in 2022, with Argentine exports mainly comprising soybeans, corn, wheat, and cotton, and Bangladesh primarily exporting garments and pharmaceuticals to Argentina.
The meeting was attended by key officials from both sides, including Maximiliano Romanello of the Argentine Embassy and ICCB representatives, who expressed enthusiasm for strengthening business-to-business and institutional linkages in garments and cotton trade. The dialogue signals a concerted effort to harness the untapped potential for increased cooperation in these vital sectors.
