The Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI) and the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in trade and investment.


The agreement was signed on Thursday at the ICDT office in Casablanca, Morocco.

Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the OIC, Mr. MJH Jabed, and ICDT Director General Ms. Latifa Elbouabdellaoui signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organizations.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Morocco, Ms. Sadia Faizunnesa, along with senior ICDT officials, attended the ceremony.


ICDT, established in 1984 as a subsidiary organ of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), works to promote trade and investment among member states.


During the discussions prior to the signing, the Bangladesh delegation highlighted that expanding trade and attracting investment remain key priorities of the current government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. They reaffirmed Bangladesh’s readiness to extend full support to its trade partners to strengthen its global image as a trading nation.


The delegation also urged ICDT researchers to incorporate Bangladesh’s economic sectors and sub-sectors into their research and policy advocacy initiatives. They thanked ICDT for its forward-looking decision, noting that the MoU would facilitate exchange of ideas, professionals, and institutional collaboration between the two organizations.


Both sides expressed optimism that skilled Bangladeshi professionals would have opportunities to contribute directly to ICDT’s diverse work programmes.
ICDT Director General Ms. Elbouabdellaoui appreciated Bangladesh’s initiative in formalizing the partnership and described the MoU as a historic milestone. She noted that Bangladesh is a regular contributor to OIC bodies and an active participant in various OIC forums.
She also indicated that ICDT is considering including Bangladesh as a pilot country in upcoming trade promotion initiatives, potentially designating Dhaka as a regional hub for trade and investment matchmaking activities.


Additionally, ICDT plans to update its country profile on Bangladesh and initiate discussions with the government to implement a trade and investment country programme for 2026–27. The programme is expected to include branding, showcasing opportunities, workshops, trade negotiation sessions, and capacity-building initiatives.


The MoU will initially remain effective for two years, with the possibility of extension upon mutual agreement.