Around 100 companies from the two countries attended the Seville event, with discussions focusing on garments, leather goods, footwear and technology.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam views footwear on display at the Spain-Bangladesh Expo 2026 in Seville today, 26 October 2026. Photo: Courtesy
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State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam views footwear on display at the Spain-Bangladesh Expo 2026 in Seville today, 26 October 2026. Photo: Courtesy
Bangladesh and Spain have called for stronger bilateral trade and joint investment, with around 100 companies from the two countries attending the Spain-Bangladesh Expo 2026 in Seville to explore business opportunities in garments, leather goods, footwear and other sectors.
Organised by the Spain-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SBCCI), the daylong event brought together around 50 companies from Bangladesh and 50 from Seville, alongside policymakers, diplomats and business leaders, to explore ways to expand Bangladesh’s commercial presence in the European market.
Speaking as the chief guest, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said Bangladesh was positioning itself not only as an export hub but also as a destination for joint investment.
She invited Spanish businesses to explore investment opportunities in Bangladesh’s emerging sectors, saying stronger commercial ties could help diversify Bangladeshi exports to European markets.
“Bangladesh and Spain have opened up new possibilities for commercial relations through this expo. We hope it will further expand the market for Bangladeshi products in Europe,” she said.
She also highlighted opportunities for Bangladesh’s established ready-made garment industry to build partnerships with Spanish companies in footwear and modern technology, helping the country diversify its export basket.
Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Spain Masudur Rahman called for stronger trade diplomacy to deepen economic ties between the two countries.
Rocío Blanco, minister of employment, business and self-employment of the regional government of Andalusia, attended the event alongside officials from the Andalusian government and Seville City Council. They expressed support for encouraging Spanish businesses to consider investment opportunities in Bangladesh.
Representatives of the European footwear industry also expressed interest in exploring cooperation with Bangladesh in leather goods and footwear, which could help diversify bilateral trade beyond garments.
SBCCI President Ashiqur Rahman was among the key speakers at the event.
Other attendees included Antonio Gutiérrez Limones, vice-chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee; José Agustín González Romo, director general of Andalusia Global; Manuel Parejo Guzmán, director of the Open for Business Office at Seville City Council; María Isabel Romero Arias, president of the Islamic Junta; and Khairul Alam Suzan, a member of SBCCI.
Organisers Monowar Hossain Monu, Rafael de la Fe Haro and Custodio Borrego Mendoza coordinated the event.
The expo aimed to facilitate direct engagement between businesses from the two countries, identify potential commercial partnerships and encourage investment. Discussions focused on expanding garment trade while opening new avenues for cooperation in leather products, footwear, technology and other sectors.
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