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Bangladesh and Indonesia would sign PTA soon to open up doors of mutual possibilities


Published : 06 Sep 2021 09:11 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2021 12:29 AM

Bangladesh and Indonesia could work together to expand trade and commerce as there have huge potentials, said Hidayat Atjeh, Indonesia's charge d'affaires in Bangladesh

He hoped that Bangladesh and Indonesia would soon sign a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to open up mutual possibilities for resolving the trade deficit.

Indonesian envoy made the remarks while exchanging views with the directors of the Chittagong Chamber on Sunday.

Charge d'Affaires sought the Chamber's cooperation in exchanging information and improving relations between the two countries' businessmen.

 Chamber President Mahbubul Alam, Senior Vice President Tarafdar Md. Ruhul Amin, Vice President Syed Mohammad Tanvir, Director Md. Ahid Siraj Chowdhury (Swapan), Zahirul Islam Chowdhury (Alamgir), Md. Sirajul Islam, Anjan Shekhar Das, Prince Md. Fauzul Alef Khan, Engineer Iftekhar Hossain, Md. Iftekhar Faisal, Tanvir Mostafa Chowdhury, Third Secretary of the Embassy Sapta N Dananjay were present.

 President of the Chamber Mahbubul Alam highlighted the historically excellent fraternal relations between Bangladesh and Indonesia, saying that despite the immense potential, trade and investment in both the countries have not reached the desired goal.

 He emphasized on the development of mutual relations between the businessmen of the two countries as well as the development of the private sector.

 The President of the Chamber pointed out the need for communication system in the expansion of trade and sought the initiative of the Embassy to launch direct flights between Chittagong-Dhaka-Jharkhand or Dhaka-Chittagong-Jharkhand.

 He expects Indonesian joint or single investment in the 100 economic zones proposed by the present government, especially in Bangabandhu Industrial Area, the economic zone of Chittagong.

 Md. Ruhul Amin, senior vice-president of the chamber, said exports to Indonesia were being hampered due to high tariffs.

 He called on the two countries to rationalize taxes in order to reduce the trade deficit in Indonesia, and assured the chamber of full cooperation in removing trade barriers.

Syed Mohammad Tanvir, vice-president of the chamber, said the duty on Indonesian products was high.  By resolving this through negotiations, Indonesian traders can promote their products by participating in the Chittagong International Trade Fair (CITF) organized by the Chittagong Chamber.

 The third secretary of the embassy, Sapta N Dananjay, said that the implementation of the PTA agreement would solve the tariff problem and the trade deficit.

After the exchange of views, he visited the exhibition hall of the Charge d'Affaires World Trade Center.