10/08/2026
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Bangladesh and Estonia vowed to strengthen bilateral relations during the 2nd Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between the two countries held in Tallinn today.
Ambassador Dr. M. Nazrul Islam, Secretary Bilateral (East & West) of Bangladesh and Mr. Mati Murd, Head of Asia and the Pacific Region of the Foreign Affairs of Estonia led their respective delegations during the meetings.
Both the sides identified that there are lot of untapped opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation and attached high priority to recalibrating and expanding the relations between Bangladesh and Estonia. They stressed to further deepen the political cohesion and proposed organizing reciprocal visits of Foreign Ministers. They discussed to explore the formation of a Bangladesh-Estonia Parliamentary Friendship Group to enhance regular interaction among the parliamentarians.
On bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation between the countries, both sides agreed to encourage more private sector interactions and exchanges of business delegations to realize the potential. Bangladesh highlighted the Estonian delegation on Bangladesh's global leadership in key manufacturing sectors, including Ready-Made Garments (RMG), jute and jute products, and pharmaceutical industry. Bangladesh delegation invited Estonian investors to explore the investment friendly climate in Special Economic Zones in Bangladesh and proposed formation of a Joint Working Group (JWC) on Trade and Economic Cooperation, a MoU between the apex chambers and invited an exploratory mission of the Estonian private sector.
They also discussed possible cooperation in employment opportunities. Bangladesh highlighter her growing pool of skilled manpower including IT professionals, engineers, electricians, plumbers, and healthcare workers. Both sides discussed for enhanced cooperation on skilled manpower migration from Bangladesh to Estonia under EU’s Talent Partnership programme for ICT, care giving, construction, hospitality and tourism, agriculture and agri-processing sectors. Estonia expressed their optimism in the matter.
Both Bangladesh and Estonia emphasized on ICT cooperation, digital governance, interoperability, e-ID System, secure data exchange, innovation and business partnership. Estonia expressed their readiness to extend support in e-Governance in Bangladesh. They further mentioned that many Estonian companies and investors in digital fields are very much interested to invest in Bangladesh and to collaborate with Bangladeshi counterparts. Estonian companies are invited to explore opportunities in Bangladesh in emerging sectors to increase business-to-business engagement and identifying areas of mutual benefit.
The two countries also discussed more people-to-people bridges including cooperation in education and sports, scholarship for students, research collaboration, and exchanges of students, youths, tourists, and cultural troupes. The delegations also discussed and agreed to conclude at the earliest a few other bilateral instruments regarding cooperation in areas such as trade and economic cooperation, cultural cooperation, tourism promotion, avoidance of double taxation, promotion and protection of investments, and cooperation in the fields of industries.
Estonia congratulated the Hon’ble Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. Khalilur Rahman for being elected the President of the 81st Session of the United General Assembly. They expressed their full support towards him during his tenure and expressed hope that the UN Charter would be upheld during his presidency. Bangladesh delegation leader mentioned that the role of Bangladesh in the UN Peacekeeping missions is extraordinary and Bangladesh is always committed to the international laws, respecting sovereignty, non-interference, equality, and mutual respects among nations. Both Bangladesh and Estonia agreed to deepen regional and global coordination and to reaffirm the close coordination, supports each other’s candidatures in different elections and mutual support across international platforms, including the UN. Estonia assured to extend their possible support towards matters of Bangladesh interest in the EU. They also exchanged views on critical regional and global developments, recognizing the strategic positions as a unique opportunity to promote stability and inter-regional connectivity. Estonia vowed to extend support to Bangladesh in international forums on matters related to Rohingya repatriation.
Bangladesh delegation also had a discussion with Ms. Karin Maandi, Acting Under Secretary of the Department of NATO and Transatlantic Relations of the Foreign Affairs of Estonia over a lunch. They further discussed issues of mutual interest in details.
The delegations noted that the 2nd official consultation would strengthen future engagements in different areas of cooperation between the two friendly countries. They decided to hold the third round of Foreign Office Consultations in Dhaka at a mutually convenient schedule.