…15th Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Trade between India and Bangladesh

Dhaka - The 15th Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Trade (JWG) between India and Bangladesh was held on 26th and 27th September, 2023 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The meeting was co-chaired by Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, Shri Vipul Bansal and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Mr. Noor Md. Mahbubul Haq.

The 15th Meeting of JWG discussed a host of bilateral issues such as removal of port restrictions, ground work on commencement of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), harmonization of standards, mutual recognition of standards, supply of essential commodities to Bangladesh, development of road and rail infrastructure, regional connectivity through multi-modal transportation and creation/ strengthening of infrastructure in Land Customs Stations/ Integrated Check Posts, border haats, etc. 

Several trade facilitative measures have been undertaken by both India and Bangladesh for facilitating trade between the countries. India has allowed exports from Bangladesh to India by rail in closed containers, with customs clearance facility at any Inland Container Depot (ICD) vide circular dated 17th May 2022. Bangladesh informed about successful commencement of Agreement on the use of Chattogram and Mongla Port (ACMP) and increasing the number of goods to be traded through various Land Custom Stations (LCSs).