Canada Eyes Sustainable Trade, Investment in Bangladesh

Weldon Epp, Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) for the Indo-Pacific at Global Affairs Canada, is currently on his first official visit to Bangladesh, engaging in a series of meetings with government officials, business leaders, and development partners.

During his visit, ADM Epp held discussions with Commerce, Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin and Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam focusing on boosting partnerships to drive sustainable growth and innovation, with particular emphasis on agriculture, clean technology, and investment opportunities in Bangladesh.

Canada, which is a significant trading partner of Bangladesh, saw bilateral trade reaching USD 3.27 billion (BDT 27,537 crore) in 2024.

Ottawa remains a reliable partner in Bangladesh's journey towards LDC graduation, democratic governance, and shared prosperity, Canadian High Commission said here. 

ADM Epp visited the Dhaka office of Gildan, Canada's largest investor in Bangladesh since 2010, which currently operates three factories and a distribution hub employing over 9,000 Bangladeshis.
 
His visit focused on exploring ways to boost Canadian investments that contribute to quality job creation in both countries, said the high commission today.

Highlighting Canada's commitment to strengthening Bangladesh's health sector, ADM Epp visited icddr,b, a long-term Canadian partner known for its low-cost, high-impact health innovations.
 
Canada's new CAD 15 million core funding will support icddr,b's initiatives aimed at improving the health of vulnerable communities in Bangladesh and beyond.

Additionally, ADM Epp reviewed progress under the Canada-funded ProNurse project, implemented in partnership with Cowater International, to advance nursing education in Bangladesh.
 
The initiative leverages Canadian expertise from institutions such as Universit, de Montr,al and the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) to support the professional development of Bangladesh's healthcare workforce.

Canada reaffirmed its commitment to building sustainable and inclusive trade that benefits communities across borders, expressing readiness to work closely with Bangladesh in unlocking new market opportunities and strengthening development and trade linkages for mutual prosperity, reports BSS.