KOTRA Dhaka Trade Center 2025 Business Plan Overview
The KOTRA Dhaka Trade Center is the only Korean trade and investment promotion mission in Bangladesh. The 2025 business plan sets expanding Korean exports to Bangladesh and attracting investment as its core objectives. With a budget of $3.2M — up 15% from the prior year — the plan targets 4 market development missions, 6 buyer consultation sessions, 3 investment IR events, and 200 individual support cases. Notably, support for the Korea–Bangladesh CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) has been added as a new program in preparation for Bangladesh's scheduled LDC graduation in 2026.
Korean exports to Bangladesh reached $1.24B in 2024, up 8.2% year-on-year, while imports totaled $1.61B (82% RMG). The trade balance shows a $370M surplus in Bangladesh's favor, but Korea's export growth rate to Bangladesh exceeds that of competitors China and India — signaling strong potential. KOTRA's 2025 KPIs are an additional $50M contribution to exports and 5 new investment cases.
Five Core Programs and Budget Allocation
The 2025 business plan is structured around five areas: export support, investment attraction, market intelligence, trade cooperation, and Hallyu marketing. Each area has an independent budget and KPIs and is operated flexibly through quarterly performance reviews. Export support (38%) and investment attraction (25%) together account for 63% of the total budget.
| Program | Budget | Share | Core Activities | KPI | Key Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Export Support | $1.2M | 38% | Market missions, buyer matching, localization support | Contribute $50M to exports | Year-round |
| Investment Attraction | $0.8M | 25% | Investment IR, SEZ linkages, pre-investment consulting | 5 new investment cases | H1 focus |
| Market Intelligence | $0.4M | 13% | Market reports, trend analysis, data services | 24 reports | 2/month |
| Trade Cooperation | $0.5M | 16% | CEPA support, regulatory response, NTB removal | Support 1st CEPA round | H2 |
| Hallyu Marketing | $0.3M | 9% | K-Goods Festa, exhibitions, influencer outreach | Brand awareness +10% | Quarterly |
Four Market Development Mission Detailed Plans
The 2025 market development missions cover four sectors: infrastructure & construction (March), consumer goods & beauty (June), ICT & digital (September), and medical & biotech (November). Each mission involves 10–15 Korean companies conducting 1:1 consultations with 30–50 local buyers. Selected companies receive KOTRA support for booth setup, interpretation, and local transportation.
| Mission | Sector | Schedule | Company Target | Target Buyers | Linked Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Infrastructure, construction, equipment | Mar 2025 | 15 firms | LGED, BWDB, RHD contractors | Bangladesh Infrastructure Forum |
| 2nd | Consumer goods, K-Beauty, K-Food | Jun 2025 | 12 firms | BGMEA, distributors, halal-certified companies | Cosmetica Dhaka (co-located) |
| 3rd | ICT, digital, fintech | Sep 2025 | 10 firms | BCC, BTRC, banks, fintech startups | Digital Bangladesh Summit |
| 4th | Medical devices, pharma, biotech | Nov 2025 | 10 firms | DGHS, private hospitals, pharmacy chains | Bangladesh Healthcare Expo |
Six Buyer Consultation Sessions and Support Services
CEPA Process Support (New Program)
Support for the Korea–Bangladesh CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) has been added as a new program in 2025. Bangladesh is scheduled to graduate from LDC status in 2026 and urgently needs FTA/CEPA agreements to offset the loss of LDC preferential tariffs (EU GSP+ and US GSP). A Korea–Bangladesh CEPA is projected to grow bilateral trade from the current $2.85B to over $4B.
Three Investment IR Events and SEZ-Linked Support
Strategy for LDC Graduation
| Item | Current (LDC) | Post-Graduation Change | KOTRA Support Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU Export Tariff | 0% (GSP+) | +12% (standard rate) | Accelerate CEPA support; monitor EU–BD EBA negotiations |
| US GSP | 0% (some textiles) | +15–20% | Support US–BD BIT negotiations; prevent trade diversion |
| Korea Preferential Tariff | 0% (LDC preference) | Standard tariff applied | 0% maintainable if CEPA concluded |
| Korea–BD Trade Outlook | $2.85B | $4B+ (with CEPA) | Additional $50M+ Korean export increase expected |
| Impact on Korean Firms | No tariff advantage | Competitiveness boost with CEPA | Early investment secures CEPA preferential access |
2024 Support Outcomes and Reference Cases
| Company | Sector | Support Provided | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company A (water treatment) | Water processing equipment | Buyer matching → BWDB bid support | $680K contract confirmed | Public procurement hub linkage |
| Company B (ICT solutions) | E-government | BCC direct contract brokerage; contract review | $200K contract | Proactive CEPA utilization |
| Company C (medical devices) | Diagnostic equipment | World Bank project buyer connection | Contracts with 5 hospitals | DGHS recommendation letter issued |
| Company D (K-Beauty) | Cosmetics | Cosmetica Korea pavilion booth + distribution buyers | Contracts with 3 local distributors | Halal certification support |
| Company E (solar) | Renewable energy | SREDA bid support; technical seminar | $450K supply contract | EPC partner connection |