Indian cos want to export sugar, lentil to BD

Four Indian public and private sector companies have expressed interest in exporting sugar and lentil to Bangladesh, officials said.
Recently, they wrote to the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi conveying their interest in supplying the items.
The High Commission forwarded the list of interested exporters to the Ministry of Commerce in Dhaka.
Of the companies, the majority are interested in supplying the essentials under government-to-government (G-to-G) arrangement.
The MMTC Limited, a concern of the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has already sought the ministry's approval to export sugar and lentil to Bangladesh.
After getting permission the company will send the offer letter, the High Commission wrote in a letter.
The Swiss Singapore Overseas Enterprise PTE Ltd, a concern of Aditya Birla Group, also wrote to the High Commission expressing their interest.
The company wants to export food grains to Bangladesh under the umbrella of any government trading agency.
The Punjab Agri Export Corporation Limited, an undertaking of Punjab state government, and the Agrocorp India Trade Services Pvt Ltd are also in the list who are also interested in exporting sugar and lentil to Bangladesh.
The Agrocorp India has experience in supplying food grains to Bangladesh under G-to-G arrangements.
The country's annual demand for sugar is 1.8 million tonnes, 98 per cent of which are met by importing from various countries with the majority coming from Brazil.
The local mills produce only 80,000 tonnes, according to Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission data.
Bangladesh requires 0.6 million tonnes of lentil each year. The local farmers contribute around 0.175 million tonnes while the rest is imported from countries like Australia, Turkey, Canada, and Nepal.

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