Bangladesh and India should address the non-tariff barriers to facilitate and boost bilateral trade, said Md Jashim Uddin, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).
He also urged the Indian government for removal of anti-dumping duties on jute and floating glass.
He made the call in a meeting on “New horizons in India-Bangladesh economic relations” jointly organised by the FBCCI and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Jashim Uddin also urged the leaders of the two countries to improve trade facilities in ports, cut procedural bottlenecks, upgrade testing facilities in port areas and remove logistics disruptions in export-oriented value chain.
These steps would help the two countries to take full advantage of the South Asia Free Trade Area (Safta), he said.
The FBCCI president, in another meeting today, urged the Indian investors to utilise Bangladesh’s liberal investment ecosystem, growing domestic market, international market access facilities and one-stop services offered by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority.
A high-level Bangladeshi business delegation led by the FBCCI president is visiting India as an entourage of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The delegation reached India on Monday.
The geo-political location of Bangladesh offers huge trade opportunities for various sectors and products, including ceramic and glass items, said Tipu Munshi, commerce minister, who is also now in India with the premier.
“Bangladesh has very progressive and industry-friendly policies. Business can really take us to a level where everybody can see a better life both in India and Bangladesh.”
“Agriculture has been one of the many success stories of Bangladesh and in today’s world after the pandemic, food security has been critical for every country,” said Salman F Rahman, private industry and investment adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“We want to further capitalise on our manufacturing capabilities along with agro-processing business in Bangladesh,” he said.
“We need to further strengthen the relationship between Bangladesh and India in areas that will help bring benefits to the people of the two countries in a way that is long-lasting and based on respect and trust for each other,” said G Kishan Reddy, minister for development of north eastern region, tourism and culture in India.
