Bangladesh and Bhutan will sign air services agreement this week to boost trade and tourism between the two South Asian nations, officials said Sunday. "The civil aviation authorities of the two countries will ink the accord on Wednesday," secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Atharul Islam told the FE. The deal will pave the way for regular flights between Dhaka and Thimpu, he said, adding Bhutanese information and communication minister Lyonpo Nandalal Rai is now in the capital to sign the deal. "The air services agreement will spur trade and tourism between the two friendly nations. Bhutan is our trusted friend and the new deal will cement our ties," he said. Under the agreement, the Bhutanese national carrier Druk Air will have access to Bangladesh's small northern airports, aimed at wooing Bhutanese tourists and foreigners to historical sites in North Bengal. Bhutanese civil aviation officials will visit Syedpur and Lalmonirhat airports later this week to inspect the facilities and select which of the two domestic airports is ready for airliners flying in from Thimpu. Each of the two airports have 6,000 square feet runway and is capable of handling small and light aircraft. A small aircraft needs at least 6,000 square feet of runway for safe landing and flying. "We will show them both the airports. Both have very good landing and flying facilities. Tourists travelling from Thimpu can land in the airports in less than 30 minutes air journey," the secretary said. During the visit, the Bhutanese minister would also hold talks with his Bangladeshi civil aviation and post and telecommunications ministers. The parleys are aimed at expanding trade and connectivity between the two nations. Last month Dhaka offered landlocked Thimpu to use Bangladesh's roads, waterways and two seaports --- Mongla and Chittagong --- in an effort to boost their dismal bilateral trade. The government would also request Bhutan to trim the list of products that Thimpu has made no-go under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) deal signed in 2006. Bhutan has listed some 150 Bangladeshi products in its negative list, meaning these goods won't get any tariff concessions under the SAFTA agreement. The last commerce secretary level meeting between the two countries was held in 2008 and the next meeting is expected to be held soon. Bangladesh exports mineral water, cement, juice, handmade paper, and particle board to Bhutan paying sizable duties. The two-way trade between the two countries always skewed in favour of the mountainous nation. In 2009-10, Bangladesh exported goods worth US$2.24 million and imported goods worth $11.91 million. In 2008-09 Bangladesh's export to Bhutan was $0.61 million while import was $12 million.
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