India, Bangladesh hold Commerce Secretary Level Meeting in New Delhi

The Commerce Secretary level meeting between India and Bangladesh was held in New Delhi yesterday. The Indian delegation was led by Commerce Secretary B.V.R. Subrahmanyam and the Bangladesh delegation was led by Senior Secretary in Commerce Ministry of Bangladesh Tapan Kanti Ghosh.

Both sides held extensive discussions on a variety of issues of mutual interest including development of railway infrastructure, port infrastructure, Joint Study on Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement CEPA, Border Haats, Regional connectivity through Multi-Modal Transportation, Harmonization of Standards, Mutual Recognition Agreement.

The delegation of both the countries appreciated that there has been significant growth in bilateral trade in recent years. Bangladesh is the 6th largest trade partner of India. For facilitation of trade between India-Bangladesh through railways, a Detailed Project Proposal has been approved for developing container handling facility at Sirajganj Bazar.

For running freight trains between India-Bangladesh, 900 metre new siding line constructed at Benapole. For allowing import of all commodities from India by rail through Darsana, the construction of loading and unloading platform completed at Darshana. A Detailed Project Proposal has been approved For the development of Rail and Road-based ICD at Ishwardi.

There was consensus over the use of returning empty railway wagons or containers by Bangladesh which will reduce the overall logistics cost of India’s exports to Bangladesh. The Border Haats which were closed due to covid restriction would be opened soon.

24×7 operationalization of Petrapole-Benapole Integrated Check Post ICP to be implemented soon. There has been substantive progress made on ICP  or Land Customs Stations. Regional connectivity through multi-modal transport will be strengthened between the two countries. CEPA study to be finalized at the earliest and CEO forum to have the first meeting soon.

The meeting was preceded by the 14th meeting of the Joint Working Group JWG on Trade, at the level of Joint or Additional Secretaries of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India and Ministry of Commerce, Government of Bangladesh on 2nd and 3rd of this month in New Delhi. Comprehensive discussions were held on various areas of mutual interest.