Bangladesh Aims to Expand Agri-tech and Trade Ties with Málaga.

Bangladesh has expressed a keen interest in expanding cooperation with the Spanish city of Málaga across key sectors, including agriculture, technology, and trade. During a meeting on Tuesday, October 27, at the Málaga City Mayor’s Office, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam emphasized strengthening mutual communication and bilateral ties. Briefing on Bangladesh’s democratic journey, she commended the support extended by European Union (EU) member states, including Spain, while highlighting the importance of practical collaboration between Bangladeshi institutions and Spanish cities.

The discussions identified several potential areas for partnership, spanning ICT, skill development, student exchanges, cultural initiatives, university-level cooperation, tourism, and the creative economy. State Minister Shama Obaid underscored Bangladesh’s strong potential in pharmaceuticals, leather, agro-processing, IT, and renewable energy, alongside its traditional ready-made garments industry. She noted that the Bangladeshi government is actively working to attract Spanish investment and technological expertise in these high-yield sectors to build a skilled workforce and foster business networks.

Highlighting commercial partnerships, the bilateral dialogue also reflected the momentum generated at the recently held 3rd Spain-Bangladesh Expo 2026 in Seville. The trade fair featured around 40 companies from both nations displaying garments, leather goods, jute products, processed foods, chemicals, and household items. The expansion of trade relations remains central to Bangladesh’s economic engagement, with both sides seeking to facilitate direct links between academic institutions, local governance bodies, and commercial enterprises from Bangladesh and Málaga.

In response, Mayor of Málaga Francisco de la Torre Prados warmly acknowledged Bangladesh’s international standing and praised its ongoing humanitarian role, specifically referencing the nearly 1.3 million displaced Rohingya refugees hosted in the country. Mayor De la Torre expressed hope for a swift and sustainable resolution to the Rohingya crisis. Both leaders reaffirmed their enthusiasm for establishing closer ties between Bangladeshi authorities and Málaga’s municipal government to enable mutual knowledge sharing in local governance, education, business, and technology.