DHAKA, Nov 4, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh and the Republic of Korea have agreed to further deepen their economic partnership, with greater emphasis on investment, advanced technology, AI, infrastructure, innovative financing and private-sector cooperation.

The commitment was reinforced on the second working day (Tuesday) of the official visit of the Bangladesh delegation to the Republic of Korea, led by Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, MP, Minister of Finance and Planning, through meetings with senior Korean officials, KEXIM, KIC, leading companies and technology institutions.

The Bangladesh side emphasised that Korea can play a central role in Bangladesh’s next phase of transformation, complementing development finance with investment, technology, industrial partnerships and institutional capital, said a press release issued today.

EDCF Cooperation and Priority Projects

At a meeting with Hwang Kiyeon, Chairman and CEO of KEXIM, the two sides reviewed the US$3 billion EDCF Framework Arrangement for 2023–2027 and discussed priority projects, including the Dhaka MRT Line-5 Southern Route, Matlab Uttar–Gazaria Bridge and 260 broad-gauge passenger carriages.

KEXIM noted that EDCF priorities are currently under review and indicated that project proposals would be considered in consultation with the relevant Korean authorities. Bangladesh proposed a clear roadmap for the remaining EDCF resources and highlighted emerging areas including AI, digital transformation, smart infrastructure and resilient supply chains.

Strategic Economic Dialogue

In a separate meeting with Chang Huh, 2nd Vice Minister, Ministry of Finance and Economy of the Republic of Korea, the Finance and Planning Minister called for taking Bangladesh–Korea relations to a broader and more strategic level.

Bangladesh highlighted opportunities in trade, investment, advanced manufacturing, energy, shipbuilding and digital technologies, and welcomed Korea’s ongoing technical support for the master planning of the ADB-supported Integrated Growth and Development (IGND) initiative.

The Finance and Planning Minister encouraged Korea to build on this engagement through broader participation in the initiative, including its financing and implementation.

The Korean side indicated readiness to continue discussions on AI, digital transformation, alternative financing, future EDCF cooperation and wider engagement in the IGND Mobilising Korean Institutional Investment.
Discussions with the Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) focused on mobilising institutional capital for infrastructure, renewable energy, digital infrastructure and other commercially viable opportunities in Bangladesh.

The proposed Bangladesh Sovereign Fund, with a potential size of US$1–2 billion, was discussed as one possible investment vehicle. The two sides also explored the potential for combining KIC equity investment with Korea Eximbank financing, including through Korean fund managers.

AI and Digital Transformation

AI emerged as a promising new area of Bangladesh–Korea cooperation, with Bangladesh’s AI agenda closely aligned with the Korean Government’s priority emphasis on AI and digital transformation.

During discussions with LG AI Research, the delegation explored cooperation on a culturally and linguistically relevant Bangladeshi Large Language Model (LLM) and AI applications in education, healthcare, manufacturing and public services.

Bangladesh also highlighted its ambition to develop as a regional AI and data-centre hub, while discussions with FuriosaAI focused on strengthening Bangladesh’s higher-value AI ecosystem. KEXIM expressed interest in exploring AI-embedded infrastructure projects.

Korean Private-Sector Investment

The delegation engaged Korean companies on opportunities in energy, LNG, renewable energy, shipbuilding, advanced manufacturing, urban development and infrastructure, with an emphasis on moving towards long-term investment and PPP partnerships.

In discussions with Samsung C&T, Bangladesh explored cooperation in infrastructure, renewable energy, urban development, tourism and PPP projects, including rooftop and utility-scale solar and selected urban development opportunities. Samsung C&T expressed interest in expanding from EPC contracting into longer-term investment, and both sides agreed to continue technical discussions on priority projects.

At a Korean investment business roundtable organized by Youngone, Bangladesh highlighted opportunities in light engineering and component manufacturing and encouraged Korean companies to pursue joint ventures, technology transfer and integration of Bangladeshi suppliers into Korean value chains.

Towards a Broader Economic Partnership

The discussions reflected a shared interest in evolving Bangladesh-Korea relations beyond traditional development cooperation towards a broader partnership based on trade, investment, technology and shared economic opportunities.

Bangladesh welcomed the growing interest of Korean Government institutions, financial organisations, businesses and technology companies and encouraged continued engagement in Bangladesh’s development and investment agenda.

Both sides agreed to continue consultations to translate the discussions into concrete projects, investment partnerships and mutually beneficial outcomes.