Dhaka, Feb 26 : Business and political leaders of the northeastern Indian states Thursday urged the Bangladesh government to expedite the opening up of Chittagong port for the landlocked Indian region to facilitate better access to sea routes.
At the same time, they have asked Bangladesh to improve its infrastructure and connectivity along the strategic border areas as well as land routes and waterways for bolstering trade ties between the two countries.
The recommendations came at a joint declaration of India Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) and Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) at the end of the daylong Bangladesh-North East India Trade & India Investment Conclave in the city.
Attended by the top ministers of the four North Eastern Indian states namely Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, the conclave made joint statements as well as specific references to the individual state related matters.
The declaration in its formal proposals put urgent emphasis on strengthening the bilateral trade between the two countries with special focus on the states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
It also asked for direct connectivity through Chittagong port for the landlocked Indian region, which the leaders of the northeastern states termed as "the driver of trade relations" between the countries.
"Bangladeshi investors can benefit from the huge natural resources offered by the states in India's northeast, which include bamboo, rubber, horticulture and floriculture," said Minister of Industries and Commerce of Tripura Jitendra Choudhury.
"At the same time, Bangladeshi food processing companies like Pran, which has large market in India's northeast, can consider setting up their own plants in the region", he added.
The declaration put special emphasis on developing the waterways between the two countries through necessary modification and modernization while urging for developing necessary infrastructure along the border trade areas.
"National waterway 2 of India which extends into Bangladesh needs to be developed, dredged, navigable and at the same time night navigation must be allowed", said RC Agarwal, President of North East Federation of International Trade (NEFIT).
"Bangladesh has also to develop border trade infrastructure on its side," he added.
The declaration also asked for proclaiming Ashuganj port as the 'port of call' and to allow the movement of Over Dimensional Cargoes (ODCs) from Ashuganj while urging to open the Sabroom-Ramgarh land custom station.
"Simultaneously, direct bus service and air connectivity must be established between Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka and National Highway 4 of India can be connected with Dhaka-Chittagong Road", it says.
President of IBCCI Matlub Ahmad and Director General of ICC Rajeev Singh jointly announced the declaration.
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