Govt delegation to visit Indian north-eastern states in October

A government delegation will visit Indian north-eastern states in October aiming to increase country's export, bilateral trade and investment with the next-door neighbour, officials said.  
The 12-member delegation will include businessmen of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) who will pay visits to Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram states, they said.
The Business Advisory Committee (BAC), which is under the ministry of commerce (MoC), in its 4th meeting in January last, underscored the need for increasing trade and investment with India particularly with its states located at north-eastern part.
Goods (mainly consumer products) from Bangladesh are getting popularity in seven sisters, but the trade between Bangladesh and those states is yet to reach the desired level due to lack of infrastructure.
Besides, the businessmen of Bangladesh and India are being affected due to lack of infrastructure development and smooth communication with Guwahati, the largest city in Assam, thus depriving both sides of availing the potential of trade and investment.
Bangladeshi products have a wide range of demand in Guwahati and Shilchar in Assam, Agartala in Tripura, Shillong in Meghalaya and Aizawl in Mizoram and Imphal in Manipur.
Bangladesh has been exporting food and beverage, readymade garment (RMG), plastic goods, melamine, cement, rod, ceramic, cosmetics, mosquito nets and flash doors etc.
"There is immense potential for expanding trade and investment with India especially with its north-eastern states. We are trying to boost our exports in seven sister states of India," senior secretary of the MoC Hedayetullah Al Mamoon told the FE.
The two-way trade between India and Bangladesh stood at US$ 6.6 billion in 2013-14 with India's exports at $ 6.1 billion and imports from Bangladesh worth $ 462 million.
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