The planned Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), lifting of anti-dumping duty on jute and jute products from Bangladesh, withdrawal of export ban on some items from Bangladesh, ensuring supply chain of essential commodities would be prominent topics of discussion during the meeting, a news agency in Bangladesh reported.

Indian commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal is reportedly expected to visit Dhaka in March end to attend the Bangladesh-India commerce secretary-level meeting to discuss issues related to trade. Bangladesh has sent an invitation to Indian authorities and is soon expecting India’s consent. The last such meeting was held in New Delhi last March.

Formal talks on the proposed CEPA is likely to commence soon as well, the report said. A joint feasibility study was carried out on CEPA after the last secretary-level meeting.

The study suggests that the CEPA would provide a sound basis for substantial enhancement of trade and commercial partnership between the two countries and would create new jobs, raise living standards, and provide wider social and economic opportunities in Bangladesh and India.

Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia. It is also the fourth largest export destination for India with exports registering a growth of over 66 per cent from $9.69 billion in fiscal 2020-21 to $16.15 billion in fiscal 2021-22.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)