Canada to Provide Tk 3.9 Billion in Grants for Agriculture, Trade and Economic Reforms

Canada has announced grants worth 45 million Canadian dollars (approximately Tk 3.9 billion) to support agricultural innovation, economic reforms, business financing and trade expansion in Bangladesh. The funding will be provided through four new initiatives aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries and expanding mutual economic opportunities.

Canada’s Minister of State for International Development, Randeep Sarai, announced the grants during his visit to Bangladesh from October 11 to 14. The information was disclosed in a press release issued by the Canadian High Commission in Dhaka on Sunday.

According to the press release, Bioenterprise Canada will receive 18 million Canadian dollars to promote innovation in agriculture and the food sector and strengthen food security. Cowater International will receive 18 million Canadian dollars to improve the business environment, reduce regulatory complexities and expand Bangladeshi businesses’ access to international markets.

In addition, the World Bank will receive five million Canadian dollars to support economic and institutional reforms, while the International Finance Corporation (IFC) will receive four million Canadian dollars to expand private-sector financing.

During his visit, Sarai met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, and Prime Minister’s Adviser and Spokesperson Mahdi Amin. Their discussions covered opportunities to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, health, education, skills development, energy and climate financing. They also emphasised joint efforts by Bangladesh, Canada and other partners to find a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis.

The minister visited BRAC’s skills development training centre in Ashkona, Dhaka, where he learned about opportunities for young people, particularly women, to acquire skills and secure employment with Canadian support.

Over the past five years, Canada has provided 44 million Canadian dollars to support disadvantaged communities in Bangladesh as part of a broader initiative involving Canada, BRAC and Australia.

Sarai also visited the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), where he learned about the contributions of Canadian-funded research to healthcare services. Canada has provided 15 million Canadian dollars for the institution’s operations and another 24 million Canadian dollars for research on sexual and reproductive health.

In Cox’s Bazar, the minister visited Rohingya refugees and host communities to assess their living conditions. Canadian assistance to this sector has exceeded 600 million Canadian dollars since 2018. He also met Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammed Mizanur Rahman.

Sarai visited the demonstration centre of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Cox’s Bazar and Gildan Activewear Bangladesh Limited in Dhaka, one of Canada’s major investors in Bangladesh’s garment sector.

These visits highlighted opportunities to increase agricultural productivity, promote technological innovation, expand investment and create employment.

Since Bangladesh’s independence, Canada has provided more than 6.3 billion Canadian dollars in development assistance to the country. Bilateral trade between the two countries exceeded four billion Canadian dollars in 2025.

At the end of his visit, Sarai left Bangladesh for Thailand to attend the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group.