Mani Shankar invites Bangladeshi businesspeople in NE region; proposes further talks in Agartala

By AKM Moinuddin

Dhaka, July 12 (UNB) - Indian Congress leader and seasoned diplomat Mani Shankar Aiyar has invited the business community leaders to take advantage of the business opportunities in north eastern region known as seven sisters and proposed further talks in Agartala within six months.
“Bangladesh’s both eyes are always focused on West Bengal but there are huge business opportunities in NE which remained unfocused to Bangladesh,” the veteran Congress leader and Rajya Sava member said urging Bangladeshi businesspeople to put their second eye on the east.
The former Indian minister for petroleum and natural gas, Mani Shankar, made the call while talking to the leaders of country’s apex trade body FBCCI at its conference room today. FBCCI president AK Azad presided over the discussion attended by Indian High Commissioner Rajeet Mitter, India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) president Abdul Matlub Ahmad, FBCCI first vice president Jashim Uddin Khan, and members of NE business delegation.
Mani Shankar viewed that Bangladesh would be highly benefited and its growth rate might accelerate by 2 percent if it avails the opportunities as North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy (NEIIPP) provides a number facilities including tax exemption, capital investment subsidy, interest subsidy and comprehensive insurance.
Mentioning the Indian government’s vision 2020, Mani Shankar said the government has allocated Rs 20 lakh crore for its Northeastern (NE) region which lacks managerial, technical and technological support to implement the programme and urged the Bangladeshi businessmen to take the advantage.
“It’s a huge cake (Rs 20 lakh crore). If you get a slice of it, you will reduce trade imbalance with India to a large extent,” Mani Shankar said.
Explaining geographical advantages with long border, Mani Shakar said Bangladeshi businesspeople would get greater scope in the NE region compared to Indian businessmen.
“The Indian government has planned to raise the growth to 9 percent in the NE region which is now half of the mark. Without Bangladesh’s cooperation, it’s not possible to achieve the target,” admitted the Indian leader.
He said Chittagong and Mongla ports have been made available to India through Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s New Delhi visit in January this year. “Now road connectivity needs to be modernized and well-connected for better trade relations.”
He also said the prime ministers of both the countries have opened up new opportunities allowing each other to use their lands for transit and transshipment.
Mani Shankar proposed a follow-up meeting between FBCCI delegation led by its president AK Azad and NE trade delegation within next six months in Agartala to put things together for further discussion on trade ties between them.
He proposed that India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) president Abdul Matlub Ahmad will coordinate the talks.
Mani Sankar arrived in Dhaka on Saturday leading a 31-member business delegation from the Northeast region. He aimed at using his diplomatic skills to improve trade between the landlocked region and Bangladesh.
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