PM to visit Myanmar December 5-7 Trade, energy coop to get prominence

Nazmul Ahsan Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will visit Myanmar from December 5 to December 7 next to bolster bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries, a high official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said. Mutual cooperation in the areas of trade and energy is likely to figure prominently in official talks during the three-day maiden visit of Hasina to Myanmar. Though the entire issues of discussions are yet to be finalised, foreign ministry officials said talks on at least a dozen major issues may take place. "Establishing a direct air link between Dhaka and Yangon, removing problems relating to business visa, introducing direct letter of credit (LC), and narrowing down bilateral trade gap are some of the major issues to be discussed during the visit of Hasina in Myanmar," a top MoFA official told the FE on Saturday. Another most important area for discussion will be on the possibility of establishing a hydroelectric plant in Myanmar, he added. Dhaka is expected to attach highest importance to establishing a hydropower plant to meet the country's dire need of electricity. Establishing a direct road link between Myanmar and Bangladesh is the priority not only for the two neighbours but also for many regional countries, an official in the MoC said. Bilateral trade between the two neighbouring countries has been taking place under the general trade agreement and border trade agreement signed in 1973 and 1994 respectively. Trade between the two countries takes place mostly under the provisions of border trade arrangement. The two-way trade volume is very low and the balance is tilted to Myanmar. Dhaka's one of the prime agenda during the PM's visit to Yangon is to increase import from Bangladesh. Currently, exporters and importers of both the countries face problems due to the absence of direct LC opening opportunity between banks of the two countries. Since Myanmar is not a member of International Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the country follows strict foreign exchange related regulations, trade officials said. Prospect of Asian Highway and problems of business visa being issued from Myanmar embassy in Dhaka are also likely to be discussed during the visit of Hasina with her counterpart. Bangladeshi businessmen get only 14 days' visa and that allows them to travel only the bordering Rakhaine State of Myanmar. Moreover, with one single entry in the border pass, they are not allowed to move beyond Maundough. Other major issues likely to be discussed are---fertiliser buy back, repatriation of Myanmar refugees, demarcation of land boundary, delimitation of maritime boundary, coastal shipping link, cooperation in tourism, border fencing, issuance of border pass and cooperation in agricultural sector, officials concerned said. Dhaka exported goods and commodities worth only $9.17million to Yangon in 2009-2010 while its imports during the period stood at $66.65 million. Bangladesh mainly exports pharmaceutical products, leather, woven garments and other manufacturing goods to Myanmar and imports wood articles, vegetable products, prepared food and fish.