Bangladesh seeks direct Ctg-Kunming road link

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir called for deeper cooperation between Bangladesh and China’s Yunnan Province in trade, investment, agriculture, energy and technology.
He said establishing a direct road link from Chattogram through Myanmar to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan, could significantly reduce the time and cost of transporting goods between the two regions.
The commerce minister made the proposals during a meeting on Sunday with a high-level delegation from Yunnan Province visiting Dhaka.
The meeting was held at the Ministry of Commerce conference room at the Bangladesh Secretariat. The delegation was led by Zhao Junmin, executive vice governor of Yunnan Province, according to a ministry press release.
Commerce Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, and senior officials from the ministry and the Chinese Embassy were present at the meeting.
Muktadir said an efficient road connection of approximately 1,200 kilometres from Chattogram through Myanmar to Kunming could potentially allow goods to be transported between the two destinations within around 24 hours.
Such a link would not only reduce transportation costs but also help strengthen regional trade and supply chains among Bangladesh, Myanmar and southwestern China, he said.
Describing Yunnan as an important and promising market for Bangladesh, the minister said there was considerable potential to increase exports to the province by taking advantage of its geographical proximity.
He stressed the need to expedite the proposed bonded warehouse and exhibition centre facilities in Yunnan to help Bangladeshi products gain access to the province’s market of approximately 46.4 million people.
The meeting also highlighted recent progress in trade between Yunnan and Bangladesh, which exceeded RMB 1.3 billion (approximately Tk2,382 crore)  in 2025.
Executive Vice Governor Zhao Junmin said Bangladesh was the first South Asian country to come under Yunnan’s special trade facilitation policy.
Under the initiative, Yunnan has taken steps to provide bonded warehouse facilities, exhibition space and various customs-related benefits for Bangladeshi products. He said the facilities would become operational soon.
Following a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Yunnan’s commerce authorities and Bangladesh’s Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), a location has already been selected in Yunnan to display Bangladeshi products, Zhao said.
He urged Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to come forward quickly to take advantage of the facility.
The two sides also discussed expanding direct cargo air connectivity.
The meeting explored opportunities for Bangladesh to export jute and jute products, leather goods, frozen fish, fruits and other agricultural products to Yunnan, while importing flowers, fertiliser and animal feed from the Chinese province.
Participants noted that establishing direct cargo air connectivity with Bangladesh’s northeastern region could create new opportunities for trade in perishable agricultural products.
Muktadir also proposed establishing a joint research centre to improve the quality and productivity of Bangladesh’s jute sector.
He stressed the need for stronger institutional cooperation between the two sides in energy, e-commerce and technology.
Calling for greater Chinese investment in Bangladesh, the commerce minister specifically invited women entrepreneurs from Yunnan to explore investment opportunities in the country.
Referring to an initiative to transform the old jail in Sylhet into a park, he also sought cooperation from Yunnan authorities to develop a modern park in Sylhet modelled on contemporary parks in Kunming.
Zhao welcomed Bangladesh’s proposals and expressed Yunnan’s interest in further strengthening cooperation with Bangladesh in trade, investment, connectivity and other areas of mutual interest.