Trade, investment with Indian Seven Sisters to rise: Commerce minister

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said India is Bangladesh’s close ally that has partnered with the country’s commercial and economic developments.

He said there are opportunities to increase trade and investment with Bangladesh’s bordering Indian states such as Assam.

“There is a huge demand for many products that are manufactured in Bangladesh in these regions, popularly known as Seven Sisters. Bangladesh is interested in increasing trade and investment with these regions,” Munshi said.

He said this during an exchange of views with the Assam delegation led by the Speaker of the state’s Legislative Assembly, Biswajit Daimari, in the city, said a press release.

The commerce minister said Bangladesh’s main export product is ready-made clothes. About 83 percent of Bangladesh’s export earnings come from apparels.

“Many of the raw materials and machinery of garment factories are imported from India. Assam can skillfully train workers in the garment sector with skilled trainers from Bangladesh. Various traditional products including Bangladeshi clothes, ceramics, and jamdani are popular in India,” the commerce minister said.

He also said that the products of ‘Pran’ Company of Bangladesh are ‘very popular’ in various regions of India including Assam. Bangladesh is hoping that the export of goods to the bordering states of India will increase further. For this, sincere cooperation of both countries is required.

The Minister pointed out that the lifestyle and culture of the people of Bangladesh have many similarities with Assam. Commercial and economic relations can be further enhanced with the sincere cooperation of the governments of both the countries, he said.

Biswajit Daimari, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Assam State said that there has been a lot of developments in Bangladesh, and the development work of big projects is going on. There are many opportunities for further growth of Assam’s trade and financial relations with Bangladesh.

“Both countries can benefit by utilising this opportunity. As India stood by Bangladesh in the great War of Liberation, it will remain so in the future. The Indian government attaches great importance to Bangladesh in all fields,” Biswajit said.

Bangladesh is connected through land ports with Assam. So there are opportunities to increase both-way import and export trades. Import-export has also started by water route. India is keen to increase trade with Bangladesh,” the Assam Speaker said.

He said his state is looking forward to Bangladesh’s cooperation in building ready-made garment factories and skilled manpower. In the future, the economic and commercial relations of Bangladesh with Assam will increase.

It is to be noted that a delegation of 62 members including 33 MLAs of the Legislative Assembly of the Assam State Government is visiting Bangladesh.