Bangladesh and Thailand have underscored the need to convene the sixth Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting as soon as possible to begin discussions on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The issue was raised during a farewell meeting between outgoing Thai Ambassador Makawadee Sumitmor and Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin at the State Guest House Padma in Dhaka.

According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the two sides also discussed measures to reduce the trade imbalance between the countries.

Ambassador Sumitmor expressed optimism about establishing a direct shipping link between Ranong Port in Thailand and Chattogram Port in Bangladesh, which could improve regional connectivity and trade logistics.

Foreign Secretary Uddin congratulated the Thai government for successfully hosting the sixth BIMSTEC Summit and acknowledged the hospitality extended to Bangladesh’s delegation. He also thanked the ambassador for her efforts to ease the Thai visa process for Bangladeshi travelers.

During the meeting, Bangladesh sought Thailand’s support for the voluntary repatriation of Rohingya refugees and for its candidacy as an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner.

The discussion also covered broader areas of cooperation, including connectivity, investment, medical tourism, and labor mobility. Both parties agreed to hold the fourth round of Foreign Office Consultations and the next JTC meeting at a mutually convenient time.

The foreign secretary later hosted a farewell luncheon for the departing ambassador.