Mamata delineates areas of potentials

Paschimbanga Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said Bangladesh and her state are the gateway to South Asia and there are enormous economic potentials in the area remaining unexplored.
She has also stressed the need for improving the existing infrastructure and road connectivity to tap the potentials.
"We've Sundarbans, You also have. We want to make it attractive for the whole world, but it remains idle on both sides," the chief minister said on Saturday afternoon.
She was speaking as chief guest at a discussion with the local business elite at a hotel in Dhaka city.
"We can work together to make the two countries business destinations for others," she said.
She also said: "We want to walk on joint feet (one in Bangladesh and another in Paschimbanga) to develop the region economically."
Terming the Paschimbanga-Bangladesh relation 'emotional' the chief minister said there was a need for immediately nurturing the ties to move forward.
She proposed that a joint business television channel could be opened to promote the business sectors.
She said both the regions have enough resources. "We've industries, you have the same, you have cottage, we also have …we speak the same language and have similar culture."
She said a joint business committee was needed to remove the obstacles faced by the businessmen.
There would be a screening committee to identify the problems facing businesses in both Bangladesh and India, she added.
She arrived in Dhaka on Friday. Before leaving for home on Saturday night she spent busy time here.
She visited Bangladesh in the past also. But this is her first visit to Bangladesh as a chief minister of the neighbouring state.
She identified some potential areas including tourism, garment, textile, hand loom, boutique and entertainment where the two sides can work together.
She said: "I've bought some bags from Dhaka, they are too attractive."
On the unresolved Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) with India, Mamata said it was awaiting ratification in their parliament.
"I can say the land boundary dispute will be resolved shortly," she said. But, she mentioned that the Teesta water sharing deal would take time.
"Discussion on the Teesta water sharing has opened, so the solution will come soon," she added.
Local businesses highlighted different issues including para-tariff and non-tariff barriers and the lack of infrastructure in Paschimbanga. They said the trade imbalance was growing because of the bottlenecks.
The local entrepreneurs wanted to set up hotels in Kolkata.
However, a memorandum of understating was signed between the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) and the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to identify the genuine problems facing the businesspeople.
Speaking on the occasion, Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said India had been given the duty-free access for all items except alcoholic and tobacco products.
India had withdrawn all kinds of duties on import of Bangladeshi products, except 25 alcoholic and drug items, in November 2012.
He said exports to India did not rise up to the expected level due to the para-tariff and non-tariff barriers. About the road and rail connectivity among Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan, he said: "We want to see real steps for making this planned connectivity …."
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed requested Mamata to improve infrastructure in the Indian bordering areas and accept BSTI (Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution) certification as this is one of the major barriers to exports from Bangladesh.
One more border market would be launched soon in addition to the three already in operation to develop bilateral trade through the formal channel, said Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran at the programme.
Mr Saran said the Indian government had taken major steps to narrow the trade gap between the two countries.
During the July-May period of the fiscal year (FY) 2013-14, Bangladesh's exports to India stood at $ 456.63 million and imports $ 5.51 billion.
Speaking on the occasion, ICC President Roopen Roy proposed removal of the barriers to trade through joint efforts of the business community and the governments.
He also proposed a SAARC Park for industrial enterprises of member countries.
Founder of IBCCI Matlub Ahmad said many Indian industrial conglomerates had already invested in Bangladesh while many others were expressing their interest in doing so.
Recently, the Indian Hero Motor invested in a joint venture plant involving Tk 430 million (43 crore) in Bangladesh, he added.
About overseas investment by any Bangladeshi company, Mr Ahmad said the government had assured them that it would allow foreign investments when the central bank's forex reserves would cross $ 25 billion (2,500 crore). The reserves are now short of the target by $ 2 billion.
IBCCI President Mohammad Ali also spoke on the occasion.
jasimharoon@yahoo.com