Bid to boost bilateral trade with India
Tuesday, 4 March 2014
A high-level inter-ministerial meeting on Tuesday undertook a number of decisions to improve connectivity further in a bid to boost the country’s bilateral trade with India, especially Bangladesh’s export volume to the neighbouring country. “The main thrust of the meeting was to improve connectivity further between the two countries,” said Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed while briefing reporters after the meeting held at the Ministry of Finance. Chaired by Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Foreign Minister AH Mahmud Ali, Railways Minister Mujibul Haque, PM’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Dr Gowher Rizvi, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Tariq A Karim and concerned secretaries were present. The country’s bilateral trade balance is heavily tilted towards India as export of Bangladeshi goods to India totalled $ 563.96 million in fiscal 2012-13 against the import of $ 4,776.10 million from India. Since India had given duty- and quota-free access of Bangladeshi products into its market, the Commerce Minister said the meeting discussed in details how to successfully avail of these opportunities without any hindrance, according to a news agency.