PRESS
RELEASE

The Honorable Prime Minister of Bhutan, H.E. Dasho Tshering Tobgay, has emphasized the pivotal role of enhanced regional connectivity in unlocking trade and investment cooperation between Bhutan and Bangladesh.

During a bilateral meeting held in Dhaka, he underscored the importance of the Special Economic Zone in Kurigram being developed under a Government-to-Government (G2G) partnership as a transformative project. The SEZ will be strategically connected to Bhutan’s upcoming special administrative hub Gelephu Mindfulness City fostering seamless trade flows and industrial collaboration between the two nations.

The Executive Chairman of BIDA and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Ashik Chowdhury reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to fast-tracking progress on the Kurigram Economic Zone to realize the full potential of the Kurigram-Gelephu linkage.

Ashik Chowdhury said: “Kurigram and Gelephu can become complementary engines of a shared economic future. Bangladesh offers scale, skilled labour and connectivity to global markets. Bhutan brings values of sustainability, innovation and wellness. Together, we can anchor a new model of cross-border economic cooperation.”

During the meeting, Prime Minister Tobgay also expressed Bhutan’s interest in exploring opportunities for Bhutanese businesses within Bangladesh’s financial sector. He conveyed his intent to send a high-level Bhutanese business delegation to identify key sectors for trade and investment, with a particular focus on banking and financial services.

The Bangladeshi side shared recent developments in regulatory and institutional reforms, highlighting Bangladesh’s strategic push to become a regional investment hub through tax reforms, simpler repatriation, more efficient ports etc. During the meeting, both sides also exchanged views on shared heritage and cultural ties.

The Bhutanese delegation included H.E. Rinchen Kuentsyl, Ambassador of Bhutan to Bangladesh, and senior officials from the Ministries of Health, Commerce, and Industry. The Bangladesh delegation included representatives from BIDA, BEZA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Embassy of Bangladesh in Bhutan.