Belonia-Muhurighat landport opens today
Sunday, 4 October 2009
FE Report
The 14th landport of the country - Belonia/ Muhurighat - is going to be inaugurated today (Sunday) on the Bangladesh-India border in Feni district aiming at better access to the north-east Indian provinces.
Port and Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan is expected to inaugurate the vital landport to penetrate Bangladeshi products more easily and effectively in the markets of Tripura where our products are high in demand.
From Tripura, Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury, Commerce and Industry Minister Jitendra Chaudhury, Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Pinak Ranjan Chakraborty and President of Tripura Chamber ML Debnath will attend the inaugural programme.
"Inauguration of this new landport will be vital to boost export of frozen foods, sea-fish, cement, ceramics and other manufactured products from Bangladesh," President of India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) Abdul Matlub Ahmed said at a press conference organised on this occasion at the FBCCI auditorium in the city Saturday.
The IBCCI president also expressed optimism that the opening of the landport will help curb trade imbalance between the two countries.
We will able to bring in natural minerals including coal and oil from the north-east provinces of India in easy and cheaper means through this landport, he said.
The start of Bangladeshi exports through this new landport is of great importance to IBCCI's vision to increase export of goods to India, the IBCCI president said.
"We believe that with the commissioning of Belonia/Muhurighat landport, Bangladesh exporters and importers especially from Feni, Noakhalia and Chittagong will have better access to the Indian markets of that part," he added.
The IBCCI will organise the inaugural ceremony in support of Feni Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Tripura Chamber of Commerce and Industry, officials said.
According to the IBCCI, currently Bangladesh exports processed food products, agro-based products, fish and fish products, ceramic products, stone chips, toiletries, cosmetics, plastic goods and some other manufactured products to India. But the trade imbalance is still very significant, according to data.
There are 13 other landports on the Bangladesh-India border namely Benapole, Banglabandha, Burimari, Hili, Sonamasjid, Tamabil, Akhaura, Haluaghat, Darshana, Birol, Bhomra and Bibirbazar. On the other hand Teknaf is the only landport on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. All the landports are playing vital roles in international trade.
IBCCI leaders, however, complained over inadequate infrastructure facilities for smooth cross-border trade. They urged the government to give proper and immediate attention in this regard.
The 14th landport of the country - Belonia/ Muhurighat - is going to be inaugurated today (Sunday) on the Bangladesh-India border in Feni district aiming at better access to the north-east Indian provinces.
Port and Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan is expected to inaugurate the vital landport to penetrate Bangladeshi products more easily and effectively in the markets of Tripura where our products are high in demand.
From Tripura, Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury, Commerce and Industry Minister Jitendra Chaudhury, Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Pinak Ranjan Chakraborty and President of Tripura Chamber ML Debnath will attend the inaugural programme.
"Inauguration of this new landport will be vital to boost export of frozen foods, sea-fish, cement, ceramics and other manufactured products from Bangladesh," President of India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) Abdul Matlub Ahmed said at a press conference organised on this occasion at the FBCCI auditorium in the city Saturday.
The IBCCI president also expressed optimism that the opening of the landport will help curb trade imbalance between the two countries.
We will able to bring in natural minerals including coal and oil from the north-east provinces of India in easy and cheaper means through this landport, he said.
The start of Bangladeshi exports through this new landport is of great importance to IBCCI's vision to increase export of goods to India, the IBCCI president said.
"We believe that with the commissioning of Belonia/Muhurighat landport, Bangladesh exporters and importers especially from Feni, Noakhalia and Chittagong will have better access to the Indian markets of that part," he added.
The IBCCI will organise the inaugural ceremony in support of Feni Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Tripura Chamber of Commerce and Industry, officials said.
According to the IBCCI, currently Bangladesh exports processed food products, agro-based products, fish and fish products, ceramic products, stone chips, toiletries, cosmetics, plastic goods and some other manufactured products to India. But the trade imbalance is still very significant, according to data.
There are 13 other landports on the Bangladesh-India border namely Benapole, Banglabandha, Burimari, Hili, Sonamasjid, Tamabil, Akhaura, Haluaghat, Darshana, Birol, Bhomra and Bibirbazar. On the other hand Teknaf is the only landport on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. All the landports are playing vital roles in international trade.
IBCCI leaders, however, complained over inadequate infrastructure facilities for smooth cross-border trade. They urged the government to give proper and immediate attention in this regard.