Indo-Bangla connectivity in spotlight

The visiting high-powered Indian business delegation yesterday urged the government to increase connectivity between the two countries to enhance bilateral and regional trade.
The members of the delegation said Bangladesh and India can boost both value and volume of trade through border trade, eco-tourism and aviation business.
"But, first of all we need people-to-people, business-to-business, cultural and road connectivity between the two countries to achieve the benefits," said Harsh C Mariwala, leader of the delegation, at a seminar at Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel in Dhaka.
At the seminar on "Bangladesh-India Economic Relations", Mariwala, also vice president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), urged the political leaders of both the countries to remove barriers to cementing bilateral trade relationship.
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the FICCI jointly organised the seminar.A 50-member business delegation of India is now visiting Bangladesh to explore bilateral business potential. As the chief guest at the inaugural session, Commerce Minister Faruk Khan termed political barrier the main obstacle to developing bilateral trade between the two countries.
Inviting the country's apex trade body, FBCCI, to work jointly with the FICCI for increasing business-to-business connectivity, Secretary General of the Indian chamber Dr Amit Mitra called for exploiting potential of border trade, eco-tourism and aviation business between the two countries.
"Although we have cultural connectivity, we are yet to do good business between us," Mitra said.
Underscoring the need for connectivity, FBCCI President Annisul Huq said: "The borders must become porous, visa issuance needs to be addressed quickly and media must be visible in both of the lands."
21/07/09 The Daily Star, Bangladesh

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Categories: Foreign Jul 2009