Bangladesh and Morocco have agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations by expanding cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, skills development and multilateral engagement, according to a Foreign Ministry press release.
The understanding came during a meeting in Rabat between State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on Tuesday.
Shama Obaed said Bangladesh, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is committed to deepening engagement with African countries and advancing its partnership with Morocco towards enhanced cooperation and shared economic opportunity.
Both sides emphasised the importance of regular high-level exchanges to reinforce political relations and broaden areas of mutual interest.
During the discussions, Shama Obaed recalled the historic visit of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to Morocco in 1980 and appreciated Morocco’s decision to name an avenue in Rabat in his honour.
The two countries reaffirmed their intention to expand cooperation in sectors including textiles, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, agriculture, shipbuilding, education, culture, sports, women’s empowerment and people-to-people connectivity, alongside broader multilateral collaboration.
They also agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations in Dhaka soon to review ongoing cooperation and identify new avenues of partnership. The Bangladeshi side extended an invitation for the Moroccan foreign minister to visit Dhaka at a mutually convenient time.
Later, the state minister met Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour and proposed exchange visits of business delegations to enhance commercial ties. The Moroccan side expressed interest in sending a delegation to Bangladesh by the end of 2026.
Discussions also focused on strengthening agricultural cooperation, particularly ensuring a stable phosphate supply chain to support Bangladesh’s food security and agricultural productivity. Bangladesh also reiterated its interest in expanding exports of eco-friendly jute and jute products to the Moroccan market.
Both sides further explored cooperation in innovation, ICT, artificial intelligence, vocational training and SME development, while also discussing the possibility of a Free Trade Agreement to deepen economic engagement.
Shama Obaed also met Morocco’s Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills Younes Sekkouri, where Bangladesh’s social development initiatives such as the “Family Card” and “Farmers’ Card” programmes were highlighted.
The two sides agreed on the importance of closer collaboration in skills development, entrepreneurship, youth and women empowerment, and job creation through knowledge-sharing and institutional partnerships.
The state minister is currently in Morocco to attend the Second Ministerial Conference on Peacekeeping in a Francophone Environment in Rabat.
