Dhaka to seek duty-free access of 300 products
Bangladesh-Nepal technical committee meeting in Kathmandu on Oct 22-23
TALHA BIN HABIB | Monday, 7 October 2019
Bangladesh will request Nepal to allow duty-free market access of its 300 products during the upcoming bilateral technical committee meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal this month.
Besides, issues of offering long term business visa for Bangladeshis as well as ensuring roads and railways connectivity (mainly for cargo services) will also come up for discussion.
The ministry of commerce (MoC) has prepared the agenda to be discussed during the "4th Nepal- Bangladesh additional/ joint secretary level technical committee meeting" on October 22-23.
"We will discuss several issues with our counterpart," additional secretary of the MoC Sharifa Khan told the FE.
She said that the Nepal side is expected to submit their list of products to Bangladesh, seeking zero-tariff market access.
She also said that there is a possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding between the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) and the Salt Trading Corporation of Nepal for greater cooperation.
The commerce ministry official further said that investment in Nepal's power sector, bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement (BIPPA) between the two countries, enhancing truck/ transport and railway connectivity, and improving infrastructures along the agreed transit routes and land customs stations will also come up for discussion.
Besides, tri-lateral transit agreement among Bangladesh, India and Nepal, exploring air-connectivity between Biratnagar/ Bhadrapur of Nepal and Syedpur (Rangpur) of Bangladesh, participation in international trade fairs in each others' country and concluding double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) will also be discussed in the meeting.
The meeting will also discuss the progress of issues that were discussed during the 3rd technical committee meeting in Dhaka.
Finalising operational modalities for the carriage of transit cargo between Nepal and Bangladesh, duty free/ preferential market access for the agricultural and industrial products, tourism promotion between Nepal and Bangladesh and issues relating to tariff and non-tariff measures were discussed in the previous meeting.
The bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Nepal is increasing day by day. The two way trade is tilting in favour of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh mainly exports woven garments, knitwear, home textile, agro-products, footwear and raw jute.
The country mainly imports vegetable products, prepared foodstuffs, mineral products, products of the chemical or allied industries, wood and articles of wood and wood charcoal etc.