New Delhi: India and Bangladesh concluded the 15th Joint Working Group on Trade (JWG) Meeting on September 26 and 27, 2023, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where the two nations discussed various bilateral issues, including removal of port restrictions, the groundwork for commencement of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
The meeting was co-chaired by the Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, Vipul Bansal and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Government of Bangladesh, Noor Md. Mahbubul Haq.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the meeting and agreed to continue working closely to further strengthen bilateral trade and economic ties.
The CEPA negotiations are expected to begin in the near future and are expected to boost trade and investment between the two countries. The removal of port restrictions would also make it easier for businesses to trade with each other.
The two sides also discussed ways to promote border trade and cooperation in the areas of standards and quality control. This would help to ensure that goods traded between the two countries are of high quality and meet international standards.
Overall, the 15th JWG Meeting was a positive development for India-Bangladesh trade relations. The two sides discussed a wide range of issues and agreed to continue working closely to strengthen bilateral trade and economic ties.