Boeing-Airbus rivalry: EU envoy calls for level playing field in Bangladesh procurement

Dhaka: The European Union has called for a level playing field in Bangladesh’s public procurement process, saying European companies should be able to compete with firms from other countries on equal commercial terms.

EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Bangladesh Michael Miller made the remarks on September 6 while speaking to the media after an EU-Bangladesh meeting at the Ministry of Commerce.

“What we request is a level playing field in all directions,” he said.

Miller was responding to questions about the ongoing competition between US-based Boeing and European aircraft manufacturer Airbus over aircraft purchases by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the country’s national flag carrier.

He said public procurement decisions should be based on commercial merit, allowing economic operators from different countries to compete on an equal footing while ensuring that the government gets the best value for taxpayers’ money.

“In our view, Airbus has an incredibly competitive offer. It should be taken very seriously, and we look forward to the very swift concluding of negotiations between Airbus and Biman,” he said.

Biman signed an agreement with Boeing on April 30 to purchase 14 aircraft at a total cost of USD 3.7 billion. The aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in phases between 2031 and 2035.

The Boeing deal followed Bangladesh’s earlier expression of interest in purchasing 10 Airbus aircraft.

US President Donald Trump recently thanked Prime Minister Tarique Rahman for agreeing to purchase Boeing aircraft.

US Special Envoy Sergio Gor also said in a recent post on X that Bangladesh had committed to spending billions of dollars on Boeing aircraft beyond its initial order.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh has continued negotiations with Airbus over possible aircraft purchases.

The EU-Bangladesh meeting also discussed trade and investment relations, the removal of non-tariff barriers and the business environment for European companies operating in Bangladesh.