Akhaura (Tripura), June 10 (ANI): An eight-member Indo-Bangladesh team of experts conducted a joint survey at the Akhaura border checkpost in Tripura, and also monitored infrastructures such as Land Custom Stations (LCS), Integrated Check Post (ICS), which are the proposed sites for Border Haats (markets) and examined other border-related issues
The experts visited the Akhaura check post over the weekend, which is situated in the western edges of Tripura capital Agartala, and shares around 86 percent of its border with Bangladesh.
After a thorough inspection the team would give their views to their respective governments for further improvements related to infrastructure at Ragna, Manughat, Dhalaighat, Khowaighat, Muhurighat and Akhaura areas of the state.
Speaking to reporters, the Director of the Department of Commerce in the federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Indira Murthy highlighted the importance of their five-day visit to Tripura state.
"We will go over the next two-three days. We will look at all the land custom stations on the border and we will recommend what infrastructure facilities are available and what are needed," said Murthy.
Nearly 50 crores of rupees would be spent by the central government for the infrastructural development in the area.
The first secretary (commercial) of the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, B. Shyam and his Bangladesh counter part, Omar Faruque and other senior officials accompanied Murthy to check the progress.
Recently, there was significant improvement in the trade relations between the two countries. In 2010-11, two-way trade crossed the US$ 5 billion mark as a result of a significant increase in Bangladesh's exports to India (68 percent over the previous year) and India's exports to Bangladesh (43 percent over the previous year).
Currently Bangladesh imports more than four billion dollars worth of products from India while India import less than $1.0 billion worth of products annually.
Furthermore, traditional economic and cultural links between India and Bangladesh have been greatly enhanced with Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina visiting India in January, 2010 followed by a return visit by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in September 2011.
Taking into account the trade imbalance between the two countries in favour of India, Singh during his visit to Bangladesh announced the removal of all 46-textile items from the sensitive list and zero duty access in all these 46 items for Bangladesh exports to India.
"We do not have a free trade agreement with Bangladesh. We work under South Asian Free Trade Association (SAFTA). Under that, except for 25 items which relate to tobacco and alcohol, India has allowed import of all items at zero customs duty only to facilitate that export of Bangladesh into India, we are interested to modernise all these facilities," said Murthy.
Tariff concessions granted by India to Bangladesh under SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Area) (as SAARC LDC) include a zero-duty market access for all, but 480 items in the sensitive list.
India had further increased the duty-free access to 10 million pieces of readymade garments (RMG) from Bangladesh every year.
India shares 4096 kilometres of border with Bangladesh of which West Bengal has the most of 2216 kilometres.
The North Bengal frontier has a border of 1070 kilometres of border with the country and has a number of porous areas.
The two countries have struggled to establish good ties ever since India helped its eastern neighbour to emerge as independent Bangladesh in 1971 from what was then East Pakistan. (ANI)
|
|
Comments:
Vissionary
June 10, 2012 at 11:48 PM
I hope Govts of both side of the border takes an incredible approach in setting up world class infrastructures for trade and communication ..
For an instance two of the most needed communication medium i.e Rail and Air are asking for immediate attention in Tripura - which is a must to reap full benefits of connectivity between India and Bangladesh!
1.Not a single world class rail facility (starting from lack of round the clock and excellent facilities in railway station, poor coaches, irregular train timings, lack of safety during night travel etc ..) exist in different railway stations in Tripura .. how much are we prepared once Agartala-Akhaura rail link opens up for connecting Tripura to other parts India and outside world (through Chittagong international port)??
2.Not a single International Airport exists in Tripura! .. also the project transforming Agartala airport to International one is hanging .. due to lack of available land! With looking east policy from centre taking shape in bringing southeast Asia and rest of the world (including Bangladesh) more closer to Northeast .. how prepared we are in terms of setting up excellent Air communication link and facilities in Tripura?
I strongly believe Tripura govt (in close co-ordination with Center) can certainly achieve this sooner rather than late .. which would definitely give its people a connected Tripura with outside world and more importantly .. get people of Tripura off the agony they have been suffering for long due to (physical, social and economic) isolation from mainland India and outside world and give them a level headed feeling compared to other developed states in India!