Our relationship with Bangladesh

New Zealand and Bangladesh have a friendly relationship.  Our contact is mostly concentrated around meetings of the Commonwealth and the United Nations but there are an increasing number of points of engagement. Our trade relationship is growing, with increased demand for New Zealand milk powder in Bangladesh. We share a love of cricket, and compete frequently in international matches and tours.

• Trade
• Aid
• Embassies
• Recent official visits

Trade

December 2016 Statistics

Bangladesh benefits from New Zealand’s policy to extend duty free access to the world's least developed countries.

There is growing demand for New Zealand milk powder in Bangladesh, and opportunities for New Zealand in the environmental services, energy and telecommunications sectors. 

Aid

Bangladesh receives some funding from the New Zealand Aid Programme through emergency and disaster relief, and our support through United Nations and non-government organisation (NGO) channels. 

The most recent contribution, in September 2017, involved a commitment to provide $300,000 to the International Federation of the Red Cross for flood response in partnership with the Bangladesh Red Crescent.  New Zealand also  supports an agricultural livelihoods project run by the Leprosy Mission New Zealand in Chittagong.

There are opportunities for New Zealand NGOs to apply for funding from the New Zealand Aid Programme’s Partnerships Fund, which focuses on sustainable economic development initiatives in the field of Agriculture. 

Find out more about the Partnerships Fund

Students from Bangladesh can apply for Commonwealth Scholarships for postgraduate study in New Zealand. Find out more and see if you are eligible here.

Find out about Commonwealth Scholarships

Embassies

• New Zealand is represented in Bangladesh by the New Zealand High Commission in New Delhi
• Bangladesh is represented in New Zealand by the Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra (external link)

Recent official visits

New Zealand to Bangladesh

• March 2014: The Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for the UN Security Council campaign, Jim Bolger, visited Bangladesh - the first high level visit from New Zealand to Bangladesh for 41 years

Bangladesh to New Zealand

• August 2017: The Bangladesh Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs visited New Zealand for meetings with the membership of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Trade Committee and the Speaker of the House
• February 2017: The Bangladesh Minister of Food visited New Zealand with a particular focus on New Zealand agircultural expertise and dairy exports
• August 2015: Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, Muhammed Sayedul, visited New Zealand to explore opportunities in sheep and dairy farming
• February 2015: Minister of Sports and Youth Shri Biren Sikder, Minister of State for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Nasrul Hamid and Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports Arif Joy Khan visited New Zealand during the Cricket World Cup. Minister for Planning, Mustafa Kamal, also visited in his capacity as President of the International Cricket Council
• August 2013: A delegation of Bangladeshi Judges, led by Mr Justice Md Muzammel Hossain, the Honourable Chief Justice of Bangladesh, visited New Zealand to learn about New Zealand court operations and functions