India, Bangladesh to launch joint CCI

New Delhi, July 20: India and Bangladesh will launch a joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry to provide a high-level forum for accelerating economic partnership between the two countries.

The forum 'India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry' will be launched by Bangladesh President Iajuddin Ahmed in Dhaka on July 22, an official spokesman said here today.

Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh will visit Dhaka to attend the inauguration of the Chamber.

''The Chamber is being launched by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to provide a high-level forum for accelerating economic partnerships between the two countries,'' the spokesman said.

Dr Mirza Azizul Islam, the Advisor for Finance, Planning and Commerce of the caretaker government in Bangladesh, will also be present at the inaugural ceremony.

During the visit, Mr Ramesh will meet prominent members of the business community and think-tanks and have separate meetings with Dr Islam and with Major General (Retd) M A Matin, Adviser for Communications, Shipping, Civil Aviation and Tourism.

Several issues pertaining to trade and investment relations between the two countries and the issue of trade balance are likely to figure during the discussions.

India's exports to Bangladesh during April 2006-February 2007 were 1.5 billion US Dollars and imports from Bangladesh were 205 million.

Bangladesh has expressed concern at this deficit and has also been pointing out what it feels are ''unfair non-tariff barriers'' to its exports to India.

Mr Ramesh is also expected to take up proposals submitted by India for improving connectivity and access.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee visited Dhaka on February 19 and Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon on June 25-26.

UNI