Korea and Bangladesh Begin Second Round of CEPA Talks
by Kang Nahum
Published 26 Jan.2026 12:13(KST)
To Be Held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 26 to 29
In-depth Discussions on 13 Areas Including Goods, Services, and Rules of Origin
As global trade uncertainties continue to increase, the importance of economic cooperation with promising emerging markets is coming to the forefront. In this context, the government is accelerating efforts to conclude a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Bangladesh.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that the second official round of CEPA negotiations between Korea and Bangladesh will take place in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from January 26 to January 29, 2026.
CEPA is a type of trade agreement that offers greater flexibility in terms of openness and sectoral composition compared to traditional Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and strengthens cooperation in non-tariff areas such as economic and industrial collaboration. According to the ministry, the Korean delegation will be led by Sohn Hoyoung, Director-General for FTA Negotiations, while the Bangladeshi delegation will be headed by Ayesha Akhter, Director-General of Foreign Trade Agreements at the Ministry of Commerce, with around 60 representatives from both countries participating.
After declaring the launch of CEPA negotiations in November 2024, the two countries exchanged the overall structure and key issues of the agreement during the first round of talks held in August last year. In this second round, the two sides are expected to engage in in-depth negotiations to narrow differences in a total of 13 areas, including tariff concessions, services, rules of origin, and economic cooperation.
The Korean government aims to secure access to the Bangladeshi market in the manufacturing, infrastructure, consumer goods, and services sectors through the CEPA, while also seeking to expand into non-tariff areas such as climate and industrial cooperation.
Director Sohn stated, "Bangladesh is the world's eighth most populous country and a rapidly growing key potential market in South Asia. The conclusion of the CEPA will contribute to the expansion of Korean companies into South Asia," adding, "We will actively negotiate to reach an agreement as soon as possible."
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