Shahriar for expansion of Bangladesh-India trade volume

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam yesterday urged the Bangladesh and Indian business communities to work proactively with respective governments for further expansion of bilateral trade volume.

"I will urge chambers from both countries to identify the barriers in existing trade and investment and proactively work with respective governments so that the volume of business could be expanded in future,' he said.

The state minister was addressing the inaugural ceremony of North East India-Bangladesh EXIM Conclave in the city as the chief guest.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla and CEO of North East Foundation (NEF) Bhanu Pratap Singh also spoke on the occasion.

Officials of India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, FBCCI and Bangladesh Fruit, Vegetables and Allied Products Exporters' Association were present.

Shahriar said business communities of both the countries need to share ideas and contribute to across-the border flow of investments to take maximum advantage of the geographical contiguity and translate the business complementarily into successful business venture.

"Geographically and culturally North East India is connected to Bangladesh...The sectors in which both Bangladesh and India's North Eastern States enjoy comparative advantages need to be given utmost importance," he said.

Describing Human Resources Development as another area of strategic intervention, he noted that NEF through its multifarious initiatives has contributed to North East India's achievements in skills enhancement.

The state minister hoped that the North East India-Bangladesh EXIM Conclave would generate valuable ideas for expansion of trade basket between Bangladesh and North East India.

He suggested Bangladesh business community to organise similar events in North Eastern Indian cities in future for further expansion of business between the two countries.

Source: bss