Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) trade and (b) investment between the UK and Bangladesh.

The Government is working with Bangladesh to strengthen our trading relationship and support investment through our Trade and Investment Dialogue.

Under the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), 100% of goods exported from Bangladesh are eligible for duty-free access to the UK, while the Department for International Trade’s (DIT’s) reform of the rules of origin for Least Developed Countries will help Bangladesh integrate into global supply chains.

Working with UK Export Finance, DIT ensures that UK-based Bangladeshi companies selling goods and services of UK origin are eligible for support. The UK Centres of Expertise also support Bangladesh trade through technical assistance and the SheTrades Commonwealth programme directly supports women entrepreneurs.