Nepal, Maldives want for joint initiative to boost tourism business

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Commerce Minister GM Quader Saturday said lack of proper connectivity with Nepal is hurting trade and tourism, and emphasised that establishment of connectivity through India can turn Bangladesh into an economic hub of the region, reports UNB.
"Despite potentials, trade with Nepal remains below expectation…we've agreed to take tripartite initiatives with India to establish connectivity," he told the reporters at a city hotel Saturday.
GM Quader said secretary-level meetings with Nepal and Bhutan would be held in May to discuss more the establishment of connectivity. "Things will be discussed in details during the meetings. A secretary-level meeting with India has already been held."
Earlier, Mr Quader held separate meetings with visiting Commerce and Supplies Minister of Nepal Lekh Raj Bhatta, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister of Maldives Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor and State Minister for Economic Development of the Maldives Amin Abdullah.
The Commerce Minister said Bangladesh imports products worth $49 million to Nepal while exports about $10 million. "Nepal wants to export fresh fruits and vegetables and is wanted to import RMG, pharmaceuticals and other products from Bangladesh…but the problem is lack of connectivity."
Nepal gave a proposal to reach an understanding between the tour operators of the both countries for boosting tourism business, Mr Quader said adding that Bangladesh agreed on the proposal and will work on it.
On the outcome of talks with the Maldives ministers, Quader said: "The Maldives is mainly an import-dependent country…they're impressed with the quality of Bangladeshi products and keen to import from Bangladesh."
He said the Maldives is wanted to establish connectivity with Bangladesh through air and sea to accelerate bilateral trade. "We'll jointly work on it."
The Maldives also proposed introducing a tour package jointly with Bangladesh for the easier and cost-effective tour for the tourists, he said. "We'll discuss with the tour operators."
Bangladesh will soon set up a permanent display centre in the Maldives to showcase Bangladeshi products so that businesspeople in the Maldives get an idea of Bangladesh's quality products, the Commerce Minister said.
He also said Bangladesh will arrange a single-country fair in the Maldives.
Meanwhile, the issue of giving on-arrival visa to the more SAARC countries came up for the discussion during the meetings.
Additional Commerce Secretary ATM Murtozaa Reza Chowdhury, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice-Chairman Subhashish Bose and senior officials of the Commerce Ministry were present on the occasion.