UNB, Dhaka :
A daylong business conclave, titled ‘A NewPhase in Bilateral Economic Relations’, will be held here on Sunday to discuss ways for regional connectivity and building stronger ties between Bangladesh and India removing the trust deficit.
India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) and the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Kolkata will host the event with support from the High Commission of India.
Planning Minister AHM Mostafa Kamal, Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region, External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs General (retd) VK Singh,
Chief Minister of Meghalaya Dr Mukul Sangma, Commerce and Industry Minister of Tripura Tapan Chakraborty and Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran will attend the conclave.
The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region in the government of India is responsible for matters relating to the planning, execution and monitoring of development schemes and projects in India’ s northeastern region.
“We’ll discuss how regional connectivity can be established and how both the countries can benefit equally having a wider connectivity,” special adviser to IBCCI Abdul Matlub Ahmed told UNB on Friday night.
He said connectivity should not be limited within Bangladesh and India as it needs to be expanded connecting others, including Myanmar.
“We’ll discuss what steps should be taken to have a greater connectivity,” he said adding that they will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday evening before the conclave.
Matlub said the conclave will find ways for the removal of bottlenecks in the free flow of trade and commerce and strengthen connectivity on all fronts. The conclave will witness the participation of senior policymakers and business representatives, and provide a platform for further enhancing trade, commerce and investment between India and Bangladesh.
It will cover different topics, including increasing connectivity between the two countries, development of border trade infrastructure and removal of trade barriers, which will prove beneficial for the entrepreneurs of these countries.
The session on ‘East & North East India’s Emerging Connectivity, Challenges and opportunities’ will be attended by Economic Affairs Adviser to Prime Minister Dr Mashiur Rahman, Lead Economists of the World Bank Salman Zaidi.
The session on ‘Border Trade: Infrastructure bottlenecks, trade barriers and untapped opportunities’ will be addressed by former Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni.
The conference will also witness B2B meetings between Indian and Bangladeshi investors and entrepreneurs.
