Independent Task Force Welcomes Proactive Measures by Indian and Bangladeshi Governments

September 15, 2009, New Delhi

The recently constituted Sub-Regional Independent Taskforce on Connectivity and Cooperation consisting of leaders of civil society and business from both Bangladesh and India has welcomed the pro-active steps to promote Indo-Bangla trade taken by the two governments through the joint meeting of both Foreign Ministers which concluded recently in New Delhi.

In a statement, Siddhartha Mitra, the convener of the Indian segment of this taskforce and Director, CUTS International, welcomed the receptivity of both governments to the demands of civil society and business:

“Some of our recommendations made through a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India have been accepted in principle: the use of Chittagong as a sea port and Ashuganj as a river port by India for trading purposes; and facilitation of Nepal-Bangladesh and Bhutan-Bangladesh connectivity by India etc. In addition, a host of other measures have been proposed through the meeting which will further promote trade, cooperation and goodwill between the two countries.”

Mitra, however, pointed out that the unfinished task ahead was significant: the above measures have to be implemented well; there is a need for harmonisation and upgradation of Land Customs Posts and related infrastructure such as access roads, better air connectivity between Bangladesh and North East India and land connectivity for the North East to the rest of India through Bangladesh.

For more information, please contact
Anutosh Biswas, CUTS International, 09829041854, Email: ab2@cuts.org

Memorandum on Indo-Bangla Trade Submitted to Indian PM by Newly Constituted Sub-Regional Taskforce

September 07, 2009, New Delhi

A memorandum, endorsed by leaders of civil society and chambers of commerce from both India and Bangladesh and providing concrete recommendations for enhancing Indo-Bangla Trade, was submitted to the Indian Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh, earlier today by the newly constituted Sub-Regional Independent Taskforce on Connectivity and Cooperation. The memorandum with accompanying letter to the Indian PM can be viewed at http://www.cuts-international.org/Letter_to_PM_with_Memorandum_on_Indo-Bangla_Trade.pdf.

Among the endorsers were Pradeep S. Mehta, Secretary General, CUTS International; Farooq Sobhan, President, Bangladesh Enterprise Institute; Anil Saraf, Director, Federation of Industries & Commerce of the North Eastern Region; Matlub Ahmad, President, Indo-Bangla Chamber of Commerce; and M.L Debnath, President, Tripura Chamber of Commerce, to name just a few.

This task force emerged out of a stakeholder consultation organised by CUTS International (http://www.cuts-international.org/) in Agartala on August 9, 2009. CUTS is  a civil society organisation, headquartered in Jaipur with international offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Lusaka and Hanoi, which is engaged in research and advocacy on issues relating to international trade, regulation and governance.

 “The formation of this sub-regional taskforce is an important landmark in the evolution of Indo-Bangla trading relations as it represents a concerted effort to bring together representatives of civil society and chambers of commerce in both countries in influencing the future trajectory of trading relationships”, said Siddhartha Mitra, Convener of the Indian segment of the newly minted taskforce and Head, CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics and Environment.

“The recommendations of the taskforce include the facilitation of land, maritime and riverine connectivity for Indian goods through Bangladesh which would prove to be a win-win solution for both countries as it would greatly reduce transportation costs for India and yield significant revenues for Bangladesh”, he added.

A move is also being made to invite representatives from Nepal and Bhutan to the taskforce so that an integrated approach to the enhancement of trade in the sub-region can be followed. It has to be noted that India is a source of connectivity to Bangladeshi merchandise headed for Nepal and Bhutan and vice-versa and therefore these countries would play an important role in Indo-Bangla trading relations and in turn be affected by related developments.

For more information, please contact
Anutosh Biswas, CUTS International, 09829041854, Email: ab2@cuts.org