India-Bangladesh trade meeting in Tripura

Agartala, June 11: Business and Finance Commissioner of Indian High Commission in Dhaka D N Srivastav today reviewed the trade opportunity between Tripura and Bangladesh through Muhurighat in southern border of the state.

Official sources here said that Tripura Finance Minister Badal Choudhury and top officials of the state commerce department attended the meeting, besides, about 70 representatives of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and District Magistrate of Feni, Bangladesh.

While Indian officials expressed their interest to set up trade relation with Bangladesh through Sabroom, southern most point of Tripura apart from Muhurighat, Bangladesh officials has assured to take up the matter with the authority and said a few kilometres of road and two bridges should be repaired before starting formal trade through Muhurighat, officials said.

The meeting also discussed the issues related to bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh as well as to increase the list of import and export commodities, officials stated adding that the Tripura government has envisaged a plan to develop infrastructure at the Land Customs Stations (LCSs) to tap 'full potential' of the bilateral trade with Bangladesh.

The road connectivity opposite of Akhaura and Srimantapur LCSs was very poor leading to an obstacle of increasing trade with the neighbouring country, sources said adding that with the changing scenario in the field of bilateral trade, the state government has been pressing for joint declaration giving Sabroom as LCS in south Tripura.

However, businessmen engaged in export-import wanted withdrawal of tariff barrier to increase the volume of trade and also hailed the Centre's efforts to minimize tariff barriers to pave the way for better trade relations between the two countries.

UNI