Bangladesh’s Ministry of Commerce has begun a five-day training programme on artificial intelligence for trade and economic analysis, running from August 9 to 13, 2026. The programme is jointly organised by the Ministry of Commerce, UK International and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with 30 ministry officials participating in the first batch. The initiative aims to strengthen officials’ ability to use AI in government operations and policymaking.
The training focuses on practical applications of AI across trade operations, government-document analysis, import-export data, market conditions, supply chains and international trade agreements. Participants will learn about generative AI, prompt engineering, document summarisation, market-price analysis, WTO agreements, Free Trade Agreements and Preferential Trade Agreements. The programme will also explore how AI can support global trade policy and e-governance.
Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said AI could make government administration faster, more efficient and more data-driven. According to the ministry, AI could help officials analyse import-export trends, monitor commodity demand and prices, and assess the potential effects of different trade policies. This could allow policymakers to make decisions more quickly while improving services for businesses and the public.
At the same time, the minister stressed that AI adoption must be accompanied by data security, privacy, transparency and human oversight. The programme will conclude with capstone projects and live presentations, giving participants an opportunity to demonstrate how AI can be applied to real government challenges. Overall, the initiative reflects Bangladesh’s effort to move from general awareness of AI toward its practical use in evidence-based policymaking, trade analysis and digital government services.
