DHAKA, Jan 25, 2024 (BSS) - State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu today stressed the need for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India to facilitate the import of essential items during urgent situations.
 
Ahsanul said, "The government of Bangladesh will hand over a list of essential items, especially onion, sugar, ginger and garlic, to the Indian government so that those items could be imported in urgent situations."
 
The State Minister for Commerce said this when Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma made a courtesy call on him at his office at Bangladesh Secretariat today, said a press release.
 
Terming India as a true friend of Bangladesh, Ahsanul said India had always stood beside Bangladesh in any crisis and would continue to do so in the future also.

Highlighting the trade-related statistics of both India and Bangladesh, he urged the Indian government to import more products from Bangladesh.
In this regard, Ahsanul urged the Indian government to improve the communication system linking the seven sisters of India with Bangladesh and thus import handicrafts, electronics, jute and jute-made goods, and food products.

Both the State Minister and the Indian High Commissioner agreed to jointly inaugurate a 'Border Hut' along the Moulvibazar frontier. Besides, they also agreed to work together to identify the potential locations for launching new 'Border Huts'.

In response, the Indian High Commissioner put emphasis on boosting communication between the businessmen of the two countries and thus extended an invitation to take a Bangladeshi delegation to a mega show to be held in India next month.

Verma also suggested organizing 'Best of Bangladeshi Products' in India and 'Best of Indian Products' in Bangladesh, in order to ensure product diversification of both the countries and thus boosting exports.

Later, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander V Mantytskiy made a courtesy call on the State Minister for Commerce at his secretariat office.

Terming the Bangladesh-Russia bilateral relations as historic, Ahsanul said with the passage of time this relationship has reached into a new height.

The State Minister urged the Russian Ambassador to launch a speedily direct transaction system on imports and exports between the two countries.

He also assured the Russian Ambassador to extend cooperation in setting up a branch of Russian university in Bangladesh.

Following a request to reduce the trade imbalance between the two countries, the Russian Ambassador expressed his firm resolve to import pharmaceuticals, jute and jute-made goods, ceramics, and food products.

The Russian Ambassador also assured the State Minister of holding an exposition of Bangladeshi products, especially on handicrafts in Russia.
Commerce Ministry Senior Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh was present among others.