Bangladesh has the potential to increase its exports to the United Kingdom to US$10 billion by raising its share of the UK’s total imports from the current 0.49 per cent to 1 per cent, business leaders and sector representatives said on Wednesday.
They stressed the need to diversify exports beyond ready-made garments (RMG), meet international product standards, modernise certification procedures and remove tariff and non-tariff barriers to achieve the target.
The remarks came at a workshop titled “Expanding Exports to the UK Market: Prospects Beyond Ready-Made Garments” held at the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) auditorium in the capital.
The DCCI, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and British High Commission in Bangladesh jointly organised the event.
According to data presented at the workshop, Bangladesh exported goods worth $4.67 billion to the UK in fiscal year 2025–26, of which 94 per cent comprised RMG products.
The UK’s total imports amounted to $948 billion, while Bangladesh accounted for only 0.49 per cent of the market.
DCCI President Taskin Ahmed said Bangladesh had longstanding trade and investment ties with the UK, but its exports to the market remained heavily dependent on garments.
He called on businesses to improve the quality of other promising export products and comply with international standards to expand their market presence.
He also stressed the need to strengthen product certification, traceability of production origins and supply chains, packaging, branding, market intelligence and compliance capabilities.
Ahmed said local entrepreneurs needed to prepare to take advantage of market access opportunities under the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). Removing existing tariff and non-tariff barriers was also important to expand bilateral trade and investment, he added.
British Deputy High Commissioner James Goldman said the two countries enjoyed longstanding relations, with trade and investment ties continuing to grow.
He said initiatives to provide businesses with greater certainty over market access after Bangladesh graduates from the least developed country (LDC) category would play an important role in future business expansion and investment.
Presenting the keynote paper, EPB Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Hasan Arif said increasing Bangladesh’s share of UK imports to 1 per cent could raise the country’s exports to the market to $10 billion.
He said export diversification and the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers would be crucial to achieving the target.
As Bangladesh prepares for LDC graduation, Arif identified pharmaceuticals, processed and frozen foods, shrimp, agricultural products, bicycles, light engineering goods and plastics as sectors with significant export potential in the UK market.
He also called for improved value-chain management, internationally accredited laboratories and testing facilities, and greater awareness among exporters of UK market regulations and opportunities.
Arif stressed the need to expand financing opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises and improve entrepreneurs’ skills.
A technical session on the UK’s DCTS was conducted by Ellie Parker, regional adviser for trade promotion in South Asia, Central Asia and the South Caucasus at the British High Commission.
The session covered current and post-LDC graduation market access opportunities, practical guidance on using preferential tariff benefits and ways to expand the presence of Bangladeshi products in the UK.
Participants from the National Board of Revenue and the footwear, leather goods, agriculture, food processing and flexible packaging sectors also discussed export diversification and competitiveness.
They said quality assurance at every stage, from production to export, and compliance with international standards were essential to strengthening Bangladesh’s competitiveness.
The participants called for greater coordination among government agencies, the private sector and development partners to maximise existing trade preferences and prepare exporters for the challenges following LDC graduation.
The workshop reaffirmed the commitment of Bangladesh and the UK to expanding exports of non-traditional products and strengthening bilateral commercial ties.