Bangladesh is set to offer duty and quota-free market access to Bhutan for exports of lime stone powder in the upcoming meeting of the joint customs-group.
The third meeting of Bangladesh-Bhutan joint-group of customs is scheduled to begin from tomorrow (Monday) in the Bhutanese capital of Thimphu.
Duty-free access of lime stone, an industrial raw material, is top on the agenda of the joint-group meeting after a long persuasion of the Bhutanese government.
A member of the joint customs-group said the decision might be taken in the meeting after the mutual discussion and following approval of the government high-ups.
Lime stone powder is a mineral used in poultry and fish feed and industries like steel, plastic and cement.
Some 18 products including limestone of Bhutan enjoy duty-free access to Bangladesh. However, the country had enjoyed duty-free facility on the import of both lime stone and lime stone powder until February last year.
Bangladesh is the primary market for Bhutanese limestone powder.
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has declined to offer duty-benefit for exports of lime stone powder as Bangladesh only exempted shipment of lime stone, not lime stone powder, officials said.
On April, 2017, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay requested Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her visit to Bhutan for offering the market access for limestone powder.
The three-day meeting would focus on expanding bilateral trade between the two countries through easing border trade procedures and removing non-tariff barriers.
The Bangladesh team comprising officials of revenue board, foreign and commerce ministries will be led by NBR member for customs modernisation and international trade Khondaker Aminur Rahman.
Bhutan exports pharmaceuticals, readymade garment, ceramics, jute and allied products, leather goods, toiletries and agricultural products to Bangladesh. There is a large trade gap favouring Bhutan.
Bangladesh will request the Bhutanese government to help increase its exports in a bid to narrow down the existing trade gap.
Bangladesh enjoys duty-free facility for exports of some 90 products to Bhutan.
Major agendas of the joint-customs meeting are: finalisation of protocol on transit agreement, discussion on preferential trade agreement, ensuring proper marking on the goods and packages in case of exports to Bangladesh for identifying products.
The government wants to transform Nakugaon-Dalu (Meghalaya,India) border area, a trade hub among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal.
The Bangladesh side will urge Bhutan to use Nakugaon Land customs stations at Sherpur for the export-import purpose.
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