Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Mrs Riva Ganguly Das has said Bangladesh is doing well in economic development maintaining its steadily increasing gross domestic product (GDP) growth, reports BSS.
“Construction of 12 hi-tech parks in Bangladesh will be completed in next four years, with the assistance of 193 million US dollars from the
Government of India, to provide training to youths to produce 30,000 skilled IT workforces,” she said.
Riva disclosed the information at a business meeting organised by Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) with Members of its Board of Directors and traders at RCCI Board Room on Thursday night as chief guest. Presides over by RCCI President Mostofa Sohrab Chowdhury Titu, Assistant High Commissioner of India stationed at Rajshahi Sanjeev Kumar Bhati attended the event as special guest.
Senior Vice-president of RCCI Mostoba Hossain Ripon, former Vice- president of FBCCI and Managing Director of Motahar Group of Industries Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu, importers and exporters Moyen Uddin and Golam Rabbani Zulfi, spoke.
The speakers stressed on eliminating prevailing barriers to reduce trade deficit between the two countries and increase road, sky and railway connectivity for boosting trade and commerce of Bangladesh with the seven eastern states of India.
They opined for developing infrastructures, eliminating non-tariff barriers, reducing delay in testing of food products and keeping Indian customs offices open from 7 am to 7 pm to enhance bi-lateral trade and commerce between the two countries. They called upon the Indian envoy to take initiative for conversion of Burimari and Banglabandha Land Ports into full-fledged ports for accelerating import-export trade of Rangpur Division.
RCCI President Titu said the people of Bangladesh will always remember contribution of India to the War of Liberation with gratefulness forever.
“India is a development partner of Bangladesh,” Tiu said seeking cooperation of the Indian envoy in removing various barriers to increase exports of Bangladeshi products to India for reducing the huge trade deficit against imports from India.
He urged the Indian industrialists for joint or single investments in setting up economic zones in the backward Rangpur division by availing advantages and incentives, including tax concession, of the Government of Bangladesh.
The Indian envoy assured of taking initiatives to gradually resolve prevailing problems of traders in bilateral import-export trade and suggested for frequent business-to-business meets and diversification of Bangladeshi products to increase export to India.
Later, a colourful cultural function followed by dinner reception was arranged in honour of the visiting Indian High Commissioner at RCCI auditorium.
