Bengladesh

Political relations

There is long-standing goodwill towards France in Bangladesh (André Malraux’s call for international solidarity during the War of Independence in 1971, official development assistance) as well as a shared multilateral agenda (climate and other global public goods, UN reform). Milestones in bilateral relations include President Mitterrand’s visit in 1990 with the implementation of a river development programme to prevent flooding and, in 1991, the cancellation of Bangladesh’s debt to France (worth about €140 million today).

Economic relations

Bilateral trade reached a new record in 2022, with trade in goods amounting to €4.92 billion (up 51% over a year). Purchases of Bangladeshi products came to around €4.7 billion (predominantly textile products, accounting for 98%), while our exports remained limited at around €240 million, mainly concerning turbines for gas power plants (General Electric) and agricultural products. This led our deficit to reach its largest-ever level (€4.4 billion, 6% coverage rate).

More so than in consumer and luxury markets, French companies have found opportunities in Bangladesh’s vast infrastructure modernization programme (energy, transport, water/sanitation and communications sectors).

France’s industrial presence can be illustrated by four main investments: Lafarge-Holcim (cement works), Total Gaz (LPG distribution), Danone (social joint venture in the agrifood industry) and L’Oréal (cosmetics). Central purchasing bodies operate in the textile retail sector (Décathlon, Auchan, Carrefour, etc.). Service companies (CMA-CGM, Bolloré, Geodis, Bureau Veritas, etc.) and industrial groups (Suez, Veolia, Schneider, etc.) have opened subsidiaries to support the development of their activities.

The business climate remains difficult (long, costly administrative procedures, opaque and unpredictable legal environment): Bangladesh was ranked 168^th of 190 countries in the World Bank’s Doing Business report.