Indian cos looking for investment in BD: Pankaj

Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran has said on Monday a good number of Indian companies are actively looking for investment in Bangladesh.
"Now-a-days Indian companies, including some big ones, are looking for investment here. If some of this investment can be materialized, it will help the economy of Bangladesh. Besides, it will contribute to improving and increasing export, not only of Bangladesh but others countries also," the envoy said.
He said these to reporters at the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) after a views-exchanging meeting with Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed at his secretariat office.
A large number of issues, relating to bilateral trade, investment and commercial activities, were discussed in the meeting. MoC senior secretary Hedayatullah Al-Mamun, among others, was present at the meeting.
"We're going to launch a new border haat (market) at the border of Chhagalnaiya, Feni and Srinagar, Tripura today (Monday). It will be the 3rd border haat between Bangladesh and India. Already two border haats have been set up, and they are functioning well. Fourth border hat is also being set up," Pankaj Saran said.
The commerce minister and MoC senior secretary, Indian central commerce minister, chief and industries ministers of Tripura and the Indian high commissioner, among others, will be present in the inauguration programme.
Mr. Saran mentioned that Bangladesh is a close and important trade partner of India. So India is committed to focus more and more on expanding trade and investment relation with Bangladesh. The priority of the new government in India is development of the country through better regional integrity and connectivity with the South Asian countries.
Replying to a question, the Indian envoy said they did not discus about the much-talked-about telephone conversation between BJP President Amit Shah and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Tofail Ahmed said they discussed various bilateral issues in the meeting. "We have to conduct trade and business with Bhutan and Nepal through India in absence of any transit agreement with India. Transit deals exist among Bhutan, Nepal and India. So these countries can transport their goods till Bangladesh border through India. But we can not transport our products due to lack of any such agreement with India."
He hoped that Bangladesh will get such facility from India.
Duty- and quota-free access in the Indian market is available for Bangladeshi products. But some barriers still remain in this connection, which both the governments are trying to remove, said Tofail Ahmed.
Discussion was also held on Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) modernisation issue in the meeting, he added.
The authorities concerned of the two neighboring countries are working to improve bilateral relation by settling different issues step by step, Tofail Ahmed and Pankaj Saran informed the media on the day.   
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