|| Caption: The stage is set for the Spain-Bangladesh Expo 2026 at Hotel Sevilla Center in Seville, Spain, on October 26, bringing together business leaders and policymakers to strengthen bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation.Zunaid Nomani, Madrid, Spain: A new initiative to expand trade, attract investment and strengthen business partnerships between Bangladesh and Spain is set to begin in Seville on Monday, October 26, bringing together business leaders, policymakers and industry representatives from the two countries.The Spain-Bangladesh Expo 2026, organised by the Spain Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SBCCI) with support from the Bangladesh Embassy in Madrid, is expected to create fresh opportunities for bilateral cooperation, particularly in ready-made garments, leather, footwear and other export-oriented sectors.The one-day expo will be held at Hotel Sevilla Center on Avenida de la Buhaira, from 9am to 5pm, featuring commercial stalls from Bangladeshi and Spanish companies and business-to-business (B2B) meetings designed to connect entrepreneurs directly.Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam will attend the event as the chief guest, underscoring Dhaka's interest in strengthening economic diplomacy and expanding commercial engagement with European partners.Before the formal opening, the state minister is scheduled to visit the Seville Provincial Council at 9am and hold a courtesy meeting with its president, Javier Fernández de los Ríos.The expo's opening activities and stall visits will begin at 10am, followed by the formal inauguration at noon. Bangladesh Ambassador to Spain Masudur Rahman, ndc; Director General of the Foreign Ministry's West Europe and EU wing Md Mosharraf Hossain; and the state minister's Private Secretary Shamima Yasmin Smriti are also expected to attend.Several prominent Spanish officials and business leaders are scheduled to join the programme, including Francisco Herrero León, president of the Seville Chamber of Commerce; Rocío Blanco Eguren, Andalusian regional minister for employment, business and self-employment; and Patricia del Pozo, Andalusia's minister for culture and sport.Other expected participants include Antonio Gutiérrez Limones, vice-president of the Council of Europe and a senator; Álvaro Pimentel Siles, second deputy mayor of Seville; Miguel Rus, president of the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Seville (CES); and Rosana Perán Basan, president of the European Footwear Confederation.Senior officials responsible for innovation and foreign affairs in the Andalusian regional government are also expected to participate, providing opportunities to explore cooperation between Bangladesh and one of Spain's important regional economies.Bangladesh's apparel industry will be represented by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Mahmud Hasan Khan. SBCCI President Muhammad Ashikur Rahman and Secretary General Ashik Elahi Chowdhury will represent the organisers.Participating companies will receive certificates, while the chief guest will be presented with a commemorative crest in recognition of her participation.After lunch, the exhibition and B2B meetings are scheduled to continue from 2:30pm to 5:30pm, allowing businesses to discuss potential partnerships, commercial agreements and future cooperation.The programme will continue beyond Seville, with the delegation scheduled to visit the Andalusian Parliament and the Seville Chamber of Commerce on October 27 before travelling to Malaga. B2B meetings at the Malaga Chamber of Commerce are planned for October 28.The extended programme is intended to broaden engagement with Spanish businesses and institutions, moving beyond a single exhibition to explore practical opportunities for sustained commercial cooperation.For Bangladesh, Spain offers potential opportunities to diversify export destinations, expand the presence of locally manufactured products in European markets and develop new business relationships. The country's ready-made garment industry is expected to be a key area of interest, while leather goods and footwear could also benefit from closer links with Spanish buyers and industry representatives.Direct business meetings can help companies identify buyers, understand market requirements and explore partnerships without relying solely on intermediaries. Such engagement may also create opportunities for technology exchange, investment and collaboration in product development.The participation of regional authorities, chambers of commerce and industry representatives is expected to provide a platform for discussing the practical challenges and prospects of doing business across the two countries.Organisers hope the expo will open new avenues for bilateral trade and investment and strengthen Bangladesh's economic engagement with Andalusia, Spain's southern region.The success of the initiative will ultimately depend on whether the contacts made during the expo lead to concrete business agreements, increased exports and sustained investment.With follow-up meetings planned in Seville and Malaga, the Spain-Bangladesh Expo 2026 is expected to serve as a starting point for deeper commercial engagement between Bangladeshi and Spanish businesses.