Dhaka keen to increase trade with India, Iran

Commerce Minister Abdul Jalil yesterday said that Bangladesh believes in 'give-and-take' policy with priority to national development in bilateral trade and investment, reports UNB.

The new commerce minister stated this while talking to Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Dev Mukharjee who said that India is very keen to increase trade and investment with Bangladesh to the mutual benefit.

The Indian diplomat called on the minister at his Sangsad Bhaban office where the trade talk was held.

Jalil said Bangladesh is also interested to increase its volume of trade, especially its exports, to India.

The Indian diplomat told the minister that "progress is taking place and there is plenty of opportunity for further progress in this regard."

Mukharjee said that under SAPTA India has reduced duties on 2000 items and among those there are many items which Bangladesh exports to India. He stressed on the implementation of various decisions taken at different times for the development of bilateral trade.

Earlier, Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Mohammad Rezai Nouri also called on the Commerce Minister at his office and talked of strengthening economic interaction between Dhaka and Tehran.

During the meeting Jalil said that there are sectors where both Bangladesh and Iran can, work together for the mutual welfare of the two peoples. He stressed on visits of government and private-level delegations identifying the sectors of cooperation.

"Bangladesh is interested to increase its export to Iran," Jalil told the envoy.

The Iranian diplomat said that his country would provide support for the visit of Bangladeshi businessmen to Iran to identify common sectors of cooperation and Iran would take all-out steps to strengthen trade relations with Dhaka.

He also proposed formation of a joint economic council to increase bilateral trade. The Commerce Minister hailed the proposal and said Bangladesh would provide its support.