Faruk to lead business delegation to India Oct 20
A business delegation led by Commerce Minister Faruk Khan will leave for New Delhi on October 20 aiming to ink a number of deals related to investment, border haat (market) and removal of trade barriers.
During the four-day visit, a number of issues including duty-free access to Indian market, further reduction of the number of items from India’s negative list, Free Trade Agreement and investment are likely to dominate the discussions, officials said.
Talking to UNB over phone, Faruk Khan said the agenda of the discussion is yet to be finalised.
“There are four to five major agenda…Right now I can’t tell you specifically, but a final agreement regarding border haat will be signed during the visit,” he said.
Leaders of the FBCCI, BGMEA, DCCI, BKMEA, MCCI, CCCI, IBCCI and other business bodies are included in the 22-member delegation.
Faruk Khan said he would return home by road via Guwahati to see the exact condition of the road communication.
Replying to a question, the minister said he will brief the media with the entire delegation before leaving for New Delhi, most likely between October 10 and 12.
India Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) president Abdul Matlub Ahmed said Bangladesh would emphasise on further reducing the negative list for access to Indian market, existing problems relating to sale of jute bag with “Made in Bangladesh” seal and how the Indian investment in Bangladesh can be boosted.
He also hinted that the final agreement on border haat, which will be a common marketplace for both Bangladeshis and Indians to boost local business and trade between the two close neighbours, would be signed on October 21.
The two countries had agreed to set up border haat along their international border in the northeast when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited India in January this year.
Border haat was earlier scheduled to be launched on April 14 or Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla Year.
Dhaka finally agreed to sign the proposed agreement on border haat after New Delhi had assured of non-imposition of any local tax on Bangladeshi products.
According to the final draft of the agreement, an individual will not be able to trade above $50 at the border haat and the trading should be conducted in the currencies of both Bangladesh and India.
The draft agreement said a committee comprising government officials and officers of border security forces of the two nations will manage the markets and will sit periodically to review its operations.
Two border haats will be opened in the first phase– one in Sunamganj and another in Kurigram district–along the international border.
The commodities to be traded in these haats will include locally produced agriculture and horticulture products, spices, minor forest products excluding timber, fresh and dry fish, dairy and poultry products, wooden furniture and cane products, handloom and handicraft items.
The haat will operate from a place within 1.5 km radius on both sides of the border under close supervision of the border guards and customs officials of the two countries.
