Canadian Senior Assistant Deputy Minister for International Trade and Chief Trade Commissioner Sara Wilshaw paid a courtesy visit to Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) and had an interactive meeting with its acting President Razeev H Chowdhury on 23 November, 2025 at DCCI Gulshan Center. High Commissioner of Canada to Bangladesh H.E. Ajit Singh was also present during the meeting.
DCCI Acting President Razeev H Chowdhury said that the bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Canada reached USD 2.22 billion in FY2024 while the export from Bangladesh to Canada was USD 1.32 billion and import from Canada to Bangladesh was USD 901.09 million. He mentioned that Canada is the 20th largest FDI Source of Bangladesh and total FDI stock from Canada to Bangladesh recorded USD 132.83 million. The acting president noted that there is an ample opportunity for Canadian businesses to invest in Bangladesh, particularly in sectors like renewable energy, green technology, waste management, automotive components, education, healthcare, medical equipment, financial services, IT & digital infrastructure, smart logistics, warehousing and cold chain systems. He also mentioned that Canada can source leather and leather products, Jute & Jute products, handicrafts, bi-cycle, high-end RMG, ceramics, furniture, pharmaceuticals, processed & frozen food, software, BPO services from Bangladesh.
Canadian Senior Assistant Deputy Minister (International Trade) Sara Wilshaw said companies in Canada are mostly of SMEs. She said almost 75% of Canadian exports and most of the FDI from Canada go to the USA. On the other hand Canada receives most of the FDI from the USA. But at the same time, it is also important to diversify exports, export market, products to compete in the international market. Canada is good at educational sector and a lot of students from Bangladesh study in Canada. She also added that in the education and skill development sector both countries have equal opportunities to work together. She also said that Canada has a commendable strength in automotive industry as well as in the food processing industry. She also said that Canada wants to facilitate Bangladesh to be more competitive globally in terms of enhancing supply chain ecosystem. The Canadian automotive sector is now looking for new market diversification, in that case Bangladesh could be a great market, she added.
Canadian High Commissioner Ajit Singh said that to strengthen the contact between the businesses, chamber to chamber relation is more important. He said the private sector of Bangladesh is engine of growth of this country. He said that Canada is very much interested to boost its trade with Bangladesh. “We would like to work in the skills training, technical assistance, vocational training, nursing, agro-tech industry, ease of doing business development side in Bangladesh” he told. Later, he said that there are huge opportunities to strengthen the bilateral trade relation to a new height in the days to come.
DCCI Vice President Md. Salim Sulaiman, Members of the Board of Directors and Counsellor & Senior Trade Commissioner, High Commission of Canada Debra Boyce among others were also present during the meeting.
