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The Bangladesh government has decided to establish three new consulates general in Guangzhou, China; Frankfurt, Germany; and São Paulo, Brazil, to improve consular services for expatriate Bangladeshis and strengthen trade, investment and diplomatic engagement.
According to Foreign Ministry sources, the government has sought approval from the Finance Ministry to include new posts, vehicles and office equipment in the organisational structures of the three missions.
The required approval from the Ministry of Public Administration has already been obtained, the Foreign Ministry said.
Guangzhou, Frankfurt and São Paulo are considered strategically important for Bangladesh’s diplomatic, commercial and consular interests.
The new consulates are expected to make consular services more accessible to Bangladeshis living in the respective regions.
Guangzhou is one of southern China’s major ports and commercial hubs, with a significant presence of Bangladeshi businesses, students and expatriates. The region also has strong trade links with Bangladesh, including in the readymade garment sector.
Bangladesh currently has missions in Beijing and Kunming, but the Foreign Ministry has said the distance from Guangzhou makes it difficult to provide adequate attention to activities in the region.
Frankfurt is a major financial and business centre in Germany. Germany is one of Bangladesh’s largest export markets, while the European Union is Bangladesh’s biggest export destination. Bilateral goods trade between Bangladesh and Germany amounted to around €9 billion in 2024.
The proposed consulate in Frankfurt could help expand Bangladesh’s engagement with European businesses and investors.
São Paulo, Brazil’s principal industrial and commercial centre, is also expected to play an important role in expanding Bangladesh’s political and economic engagement with Brazil and the wider Latin American region.
The new mission could facilitate greater access to Latin American markets and strengthen Bangladesh’s diplomatic engagement on issues related to BRICS and the Global South.