Bangladesh targets trade-oriented services, investment from India

Bangladesh has targeted trade-oriented services and investment from India as narrowing down huge trade deficit between the two neighbours through exports will be tough, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said Wednesday.

"The prime minister held meetings with Indian businessmen during her latest visit to New Delhi. We will use every possible way to minimise the deficit," she said.

The minister was speaking at a roundtable on 'State Visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India' at the conference hall of the Independent in the capital.

The Independent and the Centre for Foreign Affairs Studies jointly organised the event with Mahbubul Alam, former caretaker government adviser, in the chair.

Former foreign minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, former foreign adviser Reaz Rahman, former caretaker government adviser Shafi Sami and former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury also spoke.

Dr Dipu Moni said the region lags coordinated efforts when it comes to resolving outstanding issues between countries like those of European Union.

"We are not giving corridor to India or leasing our Chittagong and Mongla ports to them. We have not signed agreements or communiqué against our election manifesto."

She said Bangladesh is using the ports and can have scope to broaden the uses of them.

The foreign minister said the two countries are negotiating on solving the issue of maritime boundary. "We have to solve the problem to explore and use the resources the Bay can offer."

She reiterated her government's stance on continuing arbitration process in the international court while trying to convince India to demarcate maritime boundary.

"Two processes will continue at the same time. We will try to solve the problem bilaterally. If it does not work then we will of course have the scope to settle it at the United Nations," she said.

The minister said the joint boundary working groups have been working on the issue. "We hope we will be able to reach a solution very soon."

On mountains of trade deficit with India, Dr Moni said: "Like India, we have also large amount of trade deficit with China."

"We cannot reduce this deficit through only exports. We intend to increase trade-oriented services and we also want investment."

On border killings, she said: "India has told us during the tour that they would seriously look into the issue and take steps accordingly."

The minister also said the Tin Bigha corridor issue would soon be solved.

Discussant Shafi Sami said various unresolved disputes cast a shadow on the friendly relations between the two countries and held them back from harnessing economic development.

bdnews24.com adds: Bangladesh wants to sign an "ad hoc" deal with India on Teesta water sharing immediately after a Joint River Commission meeting slated for March, the foreign minister said Wednesday.

"The government wants to sign an ad hoc deal with India after the ministerial meeting of the JRC in March," Dipu Moni said.

Source:thefinancialexpress-bd.com/