Commerce secretary level meeting between Bangladesh, India held

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DHAKA, March 8, 2021 (BSS) – The day-long commerce secretary level meeting
between Bangladesh and India was held today in the capital aiming to boost
bilateral trade, removing the existing trade barriers and thus expanding
economic cooperation.

Bangladesh commerce secretary Dr Md Jafar Uddin led the Bangladesh
delegation while Indian commerce and industries secretary Anup Wadhawan led
his respective part at the meeting held at Hotel Intercontinental, Dhaka.

The Bangladesh delegation comprised representatives from Ministries of
Foreign Affairs, Industries, Textiles and Jute, Shipping, Bangladesh Trade
and Tariff Commission, National Board of Revenue (NBR), BSTI, Roads and
Highways Division, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and the Ministry of
Commerce.

In their introductory speeches, both the Bangladesh commerce secretary and
Indian commerce and industries secretary discussed the existing friendly
relations between the two countries.

Talking to BSS, Jafar said the meeting was held in a congenial atmosphere.

He said Bangladesh raised strong demand before the Indian delegation to
withdraw the anti-dumping duty on some Bangladeshi products.

“In response, the Indian side expressed flexible mindset and gave hint of
reviewing the matter,” Jafar added.

The commerce secretary said Bangladesh also stressed the need for signing
the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India soon as
well as further strengthening the operations of BIMSTEC.

The agendas discussed in the meeting are reviewing the progress of the
decisions taken in the last commerce secretary level meeting between the two
countries held on January 15-16, 2020, held in New Delhi, reviewing the
progress of the 13th Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on trade between
Bangladesh and India.

The other agendas discussed in the meeting are removing the existing
tariff and non-tariff barriers between the two countries.