Bangladesh and the European Union (EU) recently initialled a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in Brussels.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and EU High Representative and Vice President Kaja Kallas witnessed the initialling. Rahman was accompanied by Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir.

Bangladesh and the EU have initialled a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in Brussels.
Dhaka termed it a forward-looking framework to elevate cooperation across political, economic, development and security domains.
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman highlighted predictable market access as a priority and expressed Bangladesh’s interest in advancing talks on an FTA and an investment protection pact.

The PCA is a forward-looking framework to elevate cooperation across political, economic, development and security domains, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said in a release.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the longstanding partnership and expanding collaboration on regional and global issues.

They underscored the need to deepen cooperation in trade and investment, migration and mobility, regional collaboration and humanitarian affairs.

Rahman highlighted predictable market access as a priority and expressed Bangladesh’s interest in advancing negotiations on a free trade agreement and an investment protection agreement, according to a domestic news agency.

Rahman also met Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, and both explored opportunities in trade, investment, connectivity, innovation and multilateral cooperation.

They agreed to hold the third Bangladesh-Belgium consultations in Brussels later this year.

Rahman welcomed more engagement by Belgian businesses in logistics, port management, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, technology and water management.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

The Vietnam Trade Office in India on April 22 convened an online seminar to strengthen connectivity and collaboration across the textile, footwear and leather sectors between the two countries, as both sides seek to align with evolving global supply chain trends.

The discussion brought together policymakers, trade bodies, research institutions and industry stakeholders from India and Vietnam, reflecting growing interest in building deeper bilateral engagement. Participants examined opportunities arising from supply chain diversification, sustainability mandates and the increasing role of digital transformation in manufacturing, according to Vietnamese media reports.

The Vietnam Trade Office in India held an online seminar to boost textile, footwear and leather collaboration amid shifting global supply chains.
Stakeholders highlighted complementary strengths, with Vietnam strong in garments and India in raw materials.
Discussions focused on silk cooperation, investment opportunities and technology exchange.
Upcoming trade fairs and exhibitions were also promoted.

Vietnam’s Trade Counsellor in India, Bui Trung Thuong, noted that both economies complement each other across the value chain. He highlighted Vietnam’s strength in garment production alongside India’s capabilities in raw materials and textiles, suggesting that closer cooperation could support the development of integrated and higher-value supply chains.

He added that the forum aims to encourage direct engagement between businesses and investors to unlock opportunities in technology adoption, investment and sustainable practices.

India’s silk sector emerged as a key area for collaboration. P Sivakumar, CEO of the Central Silk Board, outlined India’s strong research base and global standing in silk production. He identified scope for joint work in silkworm breeding, technology transfer and workforce development, while also pointing to opportunities in value-added applications beyond textiles, including cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. He further encouraged Vietnam’s participation in international sericulture platforms to deepen knowledge exchange.

From an investment standpoint, Invest India representative Aditya Das underscored India’s manufacturing ecosystem and policy support for foreign investors. He observed that complementary strengths between the two countries could drive partnerships in trade, joint ventures and integrated production networks.

Vietnamese representatives echoed interest in expanding technical cooperation. Nguyen Thi Nhai of the Vietnam Sericulture Research Centre emphasised the need for deeper collaboration in post-cocoon technologies, product innovation and training exchanges, while seeking greater institutional linkages with Indian counterparts.

The seminar also highlighted upcoming industry events aimed at fostering business connections. Vietnam will host the 26th International Shoes and Leather Exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City from July 8 to 10, while India’s Bharat Tex 2026 is scheduled for July 14 to 17 as a comprehensive global textile platform. Industry representatives also promoted sector-specific exhibitions such as Meet at Agra 2026 to encourage partnerships.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)