Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has suggested special focus on five sectors including trade, connectivity, health and tourism to strengthen economic ties between India and Bangladesh. Addressing the Bangladesh International Investment Summit on Sunday, Goyal said that Bangladesh is India's largest trading partner in South Asia and currently the trade has crossed $10 billion. Both the neighboring countries are also moving towards taking forward the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Suggestions to pay special attention to five areas
Goyal said, 'I suggest special attention to five areas trade, technology, connectivity, entrepreneurship and health and tourism to strengthen the economic ties of the two countries.' Speaking on the occasion, the Commerce Minister said that efforts to expand connectivity between the two countries are very important to increase bilateral trade. Apart from this, it is also necessary to increase connectivity between Bangladesh and East India to take the investment possibilities on the ground.
India awaits Bangladesh's nod to eliminate delays in import and export of goods through the Petrapole border. With this, round-the-clock trade will be possible with the neighboring country. An official gave this information. Industrial organizations say that the period of stoppage of trucks at Bangladesh-India border has increased from 40 days to 55 days. Industry body FICCI has also raised the issue of long halt of trucks with Union Commerce Secretary BVR Subramaniam .
The Indian government, in an order on October 25, said that the Petrapole-Benapole border would remain open round the clock for three months on a trial basis. Kamlesh Saini, manager of Petrapole ground port, said that we had a meeting with all the stakeholders related to it and the Government of Bangladesh. We are fully prepared to start round-the-clock border operations from our side and are awaiting clearance from the neighboring country. Significantly, Indian exporters have expressed dissatisfaction over the long waiting period of trucks carrying consignments to Bangladesh at the India-Bangladesh border.
