Photo: MoFA

DHAKA, Aug 18, 2026 (BSS) - Lithuania could serve as a gateway for 
Bangladeshi products and services to the wider European Union (EU) market, 
Lithuanian non-resident Ambassador to Bangladesh Diana Mickeviciene said 
today.

She made the remarks during a meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs 
Shama Obaed Islam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here, according to a 
foreign ministry press release.

Mentioning Lithuania's upcoming EU presidency in June-July 2027, the 
ambassador said her country could facilitate access to the wider EU market 
for certain Bangladeshi products requiring registration, including 
pharmaceuticals, as well as services.

During the meeting, Shama stressed the need for strengthening Bangladesh-
Lithuania bilateral relations, particularly through enhanced trade, 
investment and economic cooperation.

She urged Lithuania to import more Bangladeshi products, including readymade 
garments, textiles, pharmaceuticals, biodegradable jute and jute products, 
leather goods, agro-products, furniture, plastic goods and ships.

Highlighting Bangladesh's investment potential, the state minister invited 
Lithuanian investment in apparel, leather, light engineering, agro-
processing, petroleum, renewable energy, information technology and waste 
management.

The two sides also discussed expanding cooperation in information technology, 
financial technology (FinTech), e-governance, cybersecurity, e-registration, 
e-transportation, transport digitisation, artificial intelligence and high-
tech medical device systems.

The Lithuanian ambassador highlighted her country's expertise and potential 
in these areas and expressed interest in expanding cooperation, collaboration 
and partnership with Bangladesh.

Recalling that Bangladesh and Lithuania established diplomatic relations in 
1992, Shama called for widening mutually beneficial cooperation across all 
possible sectors.

The discussions also covered education, demographic dividend, manpower and 
employment opportunities, human mobility and migration, visa facilitation, 
women's empowerment, sports and culture, as well as deeper engagement in 
international organisations.

Both sides underscored the importance of high-level visits, exchanges of 
business delegations, collaboration between business chambers, knowledge and 
technology sharing, youth and student exchanges, cultural exchanges, tourism 
cooperation and wider people-to-people contacts.

The ambassador also stressed the role of the EU-Bangladesh Business Forum, 
compliance with existing frameworks for business and legal and regular 
migration, and the potential for using Lithuania's regional connectivity in 
the Baltic region and beyond to unlock untapped opportunities for deeper 
economic ties.