Indo-Bangla traders to form core group

AGARTALA, June 2? A joint core group between businessmen of India and Bangladesh would be formed at regional level to enhance border trade and other bi-lateral relations, reports PTI. The Chambers of Commerces of Agartala and Dhaka would form the core group to explore avenues leading to enhance foreign trade, tourism, communication, towards enhancing trade trend and sign a memorandum of understanding in August in Dhaka, State Industries Minister Pabitra Kar said on Saturday. The decision was taken at the Indo-Bangla talks that ended here on Friday. Kar said business groups of two sides would hold series of talks at regional level in Kumilla and Fenni districts of Bangladesh in July. He said officials of both sides would put up proposals to their respective central governments for setting up industrial units, exchange of raw materials and better transport communication between Agartala and Dhaka. Benajir Ahmed, leader of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the main difficulties in increasing exports from Bangladesh side is partly due to its non-tariff barriers and problems of market access. He said production and exports of the existing items could be increased further if tariff and non-tariff barriers were relaxed and transport facilities are improved. Citing the outcome of secretary level bilateral negotiations held between India and Bangladesh held in Dhaka in April, Ahmed said the Indian side agreed to accord duty free access to 16 categories out of 25 categories in business. He said granting duty free access of all the 25 categories and early, effective and meaningful implementation of these concessions and commitments would enhance trade cooperation between Bangladesh and the NE states of India. This would also help reduce imbalance and create a healthy and balanced growth of trade, he said. Ahmed said both countries should stress on improving the infrastructural condition on priority basis in order to develop trade and economic cooperation. Additional secretary of Union Commerce ministry V Saparshi, joint secretary of the ministry VK Mittal, joint secretary of External Affairs ministry Nilam Deo and other higher officials of home, surface, communication ministries attended the meeting. A 68-member delegation of Bangladesh led by trade consultant of Bangladesh Foreign Trade ministry AKM Faizul Rahaman and top executives of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce attended the trade talks.