India to encourage imports from Bangladesh

January 12th, 2010 - 11:13 pm ICT by ANI  

Manmohan Singh New Delhi, Jan.12 (ANI): In a bid to encourage imports from Bangladesh, India and Bangladesh have agreed to address removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers and port restrictions and facilitate movement of containerized cargo by rail and water.

On Monday, Bangladesh welcomed India’s initiative to provide duty-free access to SAARC LDCs to the Indian market. It has also welcomed the reduction of the number of items from India’s negative list that were of direct interest to Bangladesh and requested for further reduction in the list.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has agreed to support the upgradation of the Bangladesh Standard Testing Institute with a view to building capacity on certification.

Both the Prime Ministers have agreed that investments, including joint investment and joint ventures, should be encouraged by India and Bangladesh. They agreed that the participation of the private sector in both countries would give an added fillip to economic engagement between the two countries.

Both the Prime Ministers have agreed to operationalize land customs stations at Sabroom-Ramgarh and Demagiri-Thegamukh, including putting in place necessary infrastructure and issue necessary notifications. With respect to existing land custom stations, it has been agreed to take measures for strengthening infrastructure.

It has also been agreed that border haats shall be established on a pilot basis at selected areas, including on the Meghalaya border, to allow trade in specified produces and products and in accordance with the regulations agreed and notified by both Governments.

Besides, it has been agreed that trucks for movement from Bhutan and Nepal be allowed to enter about 200 meters into Zero Point at Banglabandh at Banglabandh-Phulbari land customs station. Necessary arrangements should be mutually agreed and put in place by both countries.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a line of credit of one billion dollars for a range of projects, including railway infrastructure, supply of BG locomotives and passenger coaches, rehabilitation of Saidpur workshop, procurement of buses including articulate buses and dredging projects, said the Joint Statement issued by the two governments on Tuesday.

Bangladesh has requested for assistance to construct road infrastructure in Dhaka, including flyovers. India agreed to consider this request. . (ANI)

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