CHATTOGRAM Apr 01: A roundtable discussion on India-Bangladesh Trade and Business jointly organised by Assistant High Commission of India, Chattogram and Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) was held at the World Trade Center in the port city on Thursday.
D Rajeev Ranjan, assistant high commissioner of India, Syed Mohammed Tanvir, vice president of CCCI, Engineer Ali Ahmed, a former president of CCCI, directors of the Chamber Md Ahid Siraj Chowdhury, Anjan Sekhar Das and Shahriar Jahan and Aameir Alihussain, managing director of Bangladesh Steel Re-Rolling Mills Ltd, Mahfuzul Hoque Shah, a former director of CCCI, Md Hasan, director of Shaan Trading Corporation, Mohammed Rashed, chairman of Reliance Shipping & Logistic Ltd, Syed Mohammed Nasim, head of industrial, marine and SC, Berger Paints Bangladesh Ltd, AKM Maruf, DGM, (Cement) of Aramit Limited, Habibur Rahman, manager of Mango Line Ltd, and Wasfi Tamim, CEO, BCE, were present on the occasion.
Rajkiran Kanagala, senior vice president and Group Head of Emerging Business Units, Transport Corporation of India group from Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and Dr Pramyesh Basall, second secretary (Commerce) HCI Dhaka, presented the keynote paper on bilateral relations.
Dr Rajeev Ranjan said the roundtable has been organised to facilitate trade and investment between India and Bangladesh and so that business communities can share the challenges and opportunities in an open platform.
He also hoped that the concerned will organise more such sessions especially focusing on the key sectors in the future and assured of resolving all the critical issues discussed to further improve the bilateral trade environment.
In response to the visa-related challenges, Dr Rajeev Ranjan also assured of resolving the visa-related problems, if any, following the rules and regulations of the government.
Syed Mohammed Tanvir in his opening remarks termed the India-Bangladesh relationship a textbook example of brotherhood and friendship between the two neighbouring countries and mentioned that CCCI maintains excellent relationships with different chambers of commerce in India.
He recommended four components both the countries may look into regarding strengthening partnership between them.
The recommendations are a private sector collaboration model through intensifying private sector engagement; strengthening the bilateral support system framework especially jointly establishing the Indo-Bangla Alternative Business Dispute Resolution Center in Chattogram through collaboration with CCCI and confederation of Indian industries and other relevant chambers from India.
Dr. Praymesh Basall shared a detailed presentation on the ongoing development in the comprehensive economic partnership between India and Bangladesh and lauded the idea of establishing a joint alternative business resolution centre in the port city.
Rajkiran Kanagala in his keynote remarks emphasised intensifying the engagement of private sectors of the both countries complementing the current government-to-government efforts.
Engineer Ali Ahmed observed that India can take the advantage of the current mega infrastructural projects such as Bay Terminal, Karnaphuli Tunnel, Deep Seaport etc.
Shahriar Jahan opined that meetings should be arranged between the industries of both countries. It can create opportunities to utilise potential for the trade and business and increase trade volume by creating people-to-people relations.
Aameir Alihussain underlined the need for removing the bureaucratic hindrance and accelerating trade between the two countries, digitalisation of the SAFTA certification, , recognition of Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institute (BSTI) certification, allowing Bangladeshi products in government projects in Seven Sisters and easing medical and transit visas.
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