The Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry has expressed interest in forming a joint "Russia-Bangladesh Business Council" to deepen bilateral trade, investment, and economic ties between the two nations.

The initiative was highlighted during a courtesy visit by Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh H.E Mr. Alexander Khozin to the Administrator of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Md. Fazlul Hoque, at his Gulshan office in the capital on 16 September 2026.

Ambassador Khozin revealed that an official announcement regarding the Business Council is expected during the upcoming intergovernmental commission meeting scheduled for early November in Dhaka. As part of this trade push, Moscow also plans to host a "Russia-Bangladesh Business Forum" featuring dedicated business-to-business (B2B) networking sessions tailored to participating Bangladeshi entrepreneurs.

During the discussion, FBCCI Administrator Md. Fazlul Hoque emphasized diversifying Bangladesh’s export to Russian market beyond traditional readymade garments. He urged greater focus on high-potential sectors, including pharmaceuticals, leather and leather goods, jute products, ceramics, and human resource.

Responding to the proposal, the Russian Ambassador noted that Russia’s Ministry of Health is actively reviewing the legal and procedural requirements to import generic medicines from Bangladesh. He pointed out strong local demand in Russia for heavy footwear and leather goods suitable for cold climates. Furthermore, Moscow has issued visas to approximately 3,000 Bangladeshi workers in recent months to meet growing labor demands across agriculture, fisheries, shipbuilding, and service industries, he added.

The meeting also touched upon the progress of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project. Ambassador Khozin assured that nearly 4,000 Russian experts and engineers are working around the clock to resolve remaining technical issues, targeting the delivery of the first 300 MW of electricity to Bangladesh’s national grid within the next month.

Both leaders concluded the meeting with optimism, agreeing that joint government and private-sector endeavors will significantly reinforce the commercial partnership between Bangladesh and Russia in the coming years.