Dhaka, Jakarta in talks to sign preferential trade deal

Direct flight sought to boost trade ties

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Business Desk :
Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh Rina P Soemarno on Monday said signing a preferential trade agreement with Bangladesh is in active consideration and both countries are having discussions on the issue.
She met President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Abul Kasem Khan at the DCCI office and discussed the trade issues between the two countries.
DCCI Vice President Riyadh Hossain, Counsellor-Economic Affairs of Indonesian Embassy Inggrid Rosalina and Secretary General AHM Rezaul Kabir were also present during the meeting.
DCCI President said the bilateral trade gap between the two countries is in favour of Indonesia.
In 2016-17 Bangladesh exported to Indonesia worth of US$46.389 million against the import of US$1149.9 million, said a DCCI press release.
He urged the Indonesian Ambassador to take initiative to start direct air flight between Dhaka and Jakarta to boost bilateral trade specially tourism sector.
He invited Indonesian investors to invest in agriculture, IT, leather, infrastructure and tourism sectors in Bangladesh. The Ambassador said Bangladeshi jute bag, tiles from jute and other diversified jute products and shoes have potential market access in Indonesia.
She invited Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to attend ‘Tradexpo Indonesia’ to be held from October 24 to 28 this year in Indonesia.
The envoy showed her interest to jointly work in the blue economy sector to explore its potentials.
She also echoed with the President, DCCI for establishing a direct flight between Dhaka and Jakarta.
The Ambassador said the more they will know each other, the more trade will take place between the two countries. She said exchange of trade delegation will bring the entrepreneurs of both the countries close to each other.
Riyadh Hossain said Bangladesh is doing well in the IT sector and invited Indonesian investors to invest in IT sector of Bangladesh.
Besides, he welcomed a joint effort to expand the cooperation in development of leather and chemical sectors.
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