Indo-Bangla businessmen blame New Delhi for delaying withdrawal of trade barriers
The business leaders said that Bangladesh could export goods worth USD 1.0 billion to India by June 2011 if the trade barriers were removed
CHITTAGONG, Apr 13: The time-wasting tactics of New Delhi bureaucrats in removing tariff and non-tariff barriers in the export of Bangladeshi goods to neighbouring Indian states have hurt the businesses of both the countries.(The Financial Express)
The local exporters and entrepreneurs and the intending importers from India have observed that the barriers should be removed as early as possible to pave way for duty-free access of Bangladeshi goods to India as per WTO agreement.
The business leaders said that Bangladesh could export goods worth USD 1.0 billion to India by June 2011 from the existing export worth USD half a billion if the trade barriers were removed.
The observations came at a roundtable hosted by Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and attended by a high-profile business delegation from India at Hotel Agrabad in the city this morning.
Chaired by CMCCI president Abdus Salam the meeting was addressed among others by leader of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and special adviser of the Tata International Ltd Shyamal Gupta, Abdul Matlub Ahmad, president of India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, MD of Ispahani Group Mirza Salman Ispahani, chairman of BSRM Group Alihussain Akberali and chairman of PHP Group Mizanur Rahman.
Mr Gupta said the Indian entrepreneurs are interested to invest in Chittagong because they will be able to export the products from the port. The Tata group has already signed two MoUs to establish cycle industry and leather shoe factory in Bangladesh. Some other investors are discussing the possibilities of setting up industries in Chittagong.
Matlub Ahmad said the trade barriers may go in July next as the secretary-level meeting of both the countries in Dhaka in June is expected to address the problem in the spirit of the joint communique signed during the recent visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India.
"Our first vision is to remove the barriers that stand on the way to export of goods to India. The second vision is to set up at least 100 industries in Bangladesh in joint collaboration with India by the 2013," Matlub Ahmad said.
The local exporters and entrepreneurs and the intending importers from India have observed that the barriers should be removed as early as possible to pave way for duty-free access of Bangladeshi goods to India as per WTO agreement.
The business leaders said that Bangladesh could export goods worth USD 1.0 billion to India by June 2011 from the existing export worth USD half a billion if the trade barriers were removed.
The observations came at a roundtable hosted by Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and attended by a high-profile business delegation from India at Hotel Agrabad in the city this morning.
Chaired by CMCCI president Abdus Salam the meeting was addressed among others by leader of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and special adviser of the Tata International Ltd Shyamal Gupta, Abdul Matlub Ahmad, president of India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, MD of Ispahani Group Mirza Salman Ispahani, chairman of BSRM Group Alihussain Akberali and chairman of PHP Group Mizanur Rahman.
Mr Gupta said the Indian entrepreneurs are interested to invest in Chittagong because they will be able to export the products from the port. The Tata group has already signed two MoUs to establish cycle industry and leather shoe factory in Bangladesh. Some other investors are discussing the possibilities of setting up industries in Chittagong.
Matlub Ahmad said the trade barriers may go in July next as the secretary-level meeting of both the countries in Dhaka in June is expected to address the problem in the spirit of the joint communique signed during the recent visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India.
"Our first vision is to remove the barriers that stand on the way to export of goods to India. The second vision is to set up at least 100 industries in Bangladesh in joint collaboration with India by the 2013," Matlub Ahmad said.
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=97640&date=2010-04-14
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