 December 2023The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of the Government of Bangladesh is set to open the first phase of its National Single Window (NSW) services to expedite export-import trade. NBR plans to roll out the Users Acceptance Test of select certificate-licensing and permit-issuing agencies for NSW in January 2024. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, Transport, Ports |
 November 2023The Government of Bangladesh and ADB signed an agreement for the SASEC Dhaka-Northwest Corridor Road Project, Phase 2,Tranche 3. Tranche 3 is worth around $300 million and is set to be completed by June 2026. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, ADB, Transport |
 November 2023The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $336.5 million loan financing under the Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX) to establish vaccine, therapeutic, and diagnostic (VTD) manufacturing capacity and strengthen VTD regulatory capacity in Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Health, ADB |
 November 2023The Akhaura-Agartala rail link marks an important milestone that promotes trade and people-to-people contact between India and Bangladesh. This is an excerpt of an article that appears on the ORF website. Read More Tags: Rail, Transport, Bangladesh, India, Trade, Connectivity |
 November 2023ADB under the SASEC program has invested more than $15 billion in the priority sectors of transport, energy, trade facilitation, economic corridor development, and ICT as of 2020. To fully realize BBIN's potential, countries must also invest in regulatory reform in logistics services. This is an excerpt of an article that appears on the Tatsat Chronicle. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Transport, BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement, Regional Trade |
 November 2023Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the SASEC Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Railway Project on 11 November 2023. The 102-kilometer dual-gauge, single-line railway incorporates climate-resilient and biodiversity-friendly features and connects the southernmost part of Bangladesh with the rest of the country. The railway project is supported by the Asian Development Bank and is part of the trans-Asia railway network. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, ADB, Rail, Transport |
 November 2023Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Akhaura-Agartala railway link during an online ceremony held virtually held on 1 November 2023. The rail link connects Bangladesh and the northeastern region of India through Tripura. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Transport, Rail |
 October 2023The 15th Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Trade between Bangladesh and India discussed several bilateral matters, including removal of port restrictions, harmonization and mutual recognition of standards, development of road and rail infrastructure, and regional connectivity through multimodal transportation. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade |
 September 2023India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina highlighted their eagerness to begin negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and satisfaction over the implementation of development cooperation projects. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade |
September 2023 Pristine Logistics & Infraprojects of India, a rail terminal operator, has entered a joint venture with Summit Alliance Port of Bangladesh, which handles over 25% of export cargo and 15% of import cargo of Bangladesh’s containerized volume. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Logistics, Trade Facilitation |
 August 2023The Governments of Bangladesh, India, and Nepal have agreed in principle to allow the supply of electricity to Bangladesh from Nepal via India’s transmission line. A formal agreement among the three nations will be signed soon, according to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) officials. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Energy |
 August 2023 |
 August 2023The Asian Development Bank (ADB) study on Bangladesh Economic Corridor Development assesses the economic potential of the northeast and southwest Bangladesh regions to propose the holistic development of the country to achieve inclusive and sustainable development. Read More Tags: Economic corridor, ADB, Bangladesh |
 August 2023India’s Ministry of Railways is working on five mega rail projects that will make adjacent borders along Nepal and Bangladesh and certain areas between Bangladesh and Nepal accessible by rail. These rail line projects are Balurghat (India)–Hili (Bangladesh), a new line in West Bengal and bordering with Bangladesh; Jogbani (India)–Bratnagar (Nepal), Agartala (India)–Akhaura (Bangladesh), Mahisasan (India-Zero point, Bangladesh) and the Jainagar (India)–Bijalpura (Nepal). Read More Tags: Rail, Bangladesh, India, Nepal |
 August 2023The Governments of Bangladesh and India held their 14th Bangladesh–India Joint Group of Customs (JGC) meeting on 21–22 August 2023 in New Delhi, India. The meeting discussed several matters of bilateral importance, including the opening of new land customs stations, easing port restrictions, development of road and rail infrastructure, pre-arrival exchange of customs data, and a bilateral agreement on customs cooperation. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Customs, Trade Facilitation |
 August 2023Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the Akhaura-Agartala rail line in September 2023. The railway will reduce travel time between Agartala and Kolkata from 31 hours to 10 hours, opening up opportunities for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Rail, Transport, Rail Transport, Trade Facilitation |
 July 2023The Government of India plans to develop the Eastern Grid waterway with 5,000 km of navigable waterways, according to Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways. The Eastern Grid can potentially unlock multilateral trade worth $49 billion, boost regional integration, and accelerate development. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Waterways, Transport |
 July 2023The Governments of Bangladesh and Nepal have agreed to sign a long-term power sale agreement that will run for 25 years, according to Mr. Kul Man Ghising, Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority. The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited of India, and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), are set to sign a tripartite agreement allowing the export of power from Nepal to Bangladesh using Indian territory. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Electricity, Energy |
 July 2023Bangladesh Railways plans to install an elephant warning system along its new rail tracks that can serve as an alert for slowing or stopping the trains along the new Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar Railway route in Bangladesh. The route passes through three forests that are the habitat of elephants. The railway project is being funded by the Asian Development Bank under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program. Read More Tags: Rail, Bangladesh, Transport |
 June 2023The trilateral power deal being discussed among the Governments of Bangladesh, India, and Nepal is expected to be signed soon. The three-way agreement among the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), the NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN) of India, and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), aims to enable Nepal to export an initial capacity of around 40 megawatts of power to Bangladesh via India. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Energy |
 June 2023Mr. Tipu Munshi, Commerce Minister of the Government of Bangladesh, invited Bhutan to build an economic zone in Bangladesh to boost the trade relationship between the two countries. He also encouraged businesses from Bangladesh and Bhutan to lead the trade expansion by establishing strong relationships with each other to reap the benefits of their preferential trade and transit agreements. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Trade Facilitation, Private Sector |
 June 2023The Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh received a visit from the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB). In a business-to-business network session, both sides discussed the promotion of tourism between both countries, remarking that historical and cultural links can be tapped. Sri Lanka aims to increase the number of visitors from Bangladesh to around 25,000 visitors by the end of this year. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Tourism |
 June 2023ADB approved the third tranche of the SASEC Chittagong-Cox's Bazar Railway Project, Phase 1, on 20 June 2023. The assistance worth $400 million forms part of the $1.5 billion loan to build a dual-gauge railway from Chattogram (Chittagong) to Cox's Bazar. Tranche 3 will help fund construction of the 102-kilometer (km) Dohazari-Cox's Bazar section, which will provide connectivity to the Matarbari Port. Read More Tags: Rail, Transport, Bangladesh, Ports |
 June 2023The BIMSTEC Business Conclave brought together business leaders and entrepreneurs from the BIMSTEC region. During the meeting, participants from the business sector highlighted the need to develop the Bhutan-Siliguri (India)-Bangladesh corridor. Siliguri in northern West Bengal, India, is strategically placed to boost trade in the region. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Transport, BIMSTEC |
 June 2023The Government of Bangladesh has granted Bhutan access to 15 entry and exit points for the transit of goods, following the signing of the “Agreement on Movement of Traffic-in-Transit” in March 2023. The Government of Bhutan, in return, has designated 8 entry and exit points. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Transport |
 June 2023The India–European Union (EU) Connectivity Conference held in Meghalaya explored connectivity investments and identified potential projects for implementation in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India’s northeastern region, and Nepal. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, European Union |
 June 2023The Government of India has proposed the improvement and widening of the 134.9-kilometer section of National Highway 208, that stretches from Khowai to Harina in Tripura, India, to connect to Bangladesh’s Chattogram (Chittagong) port. The project will help enhance inter-state connectivity within India's northeastern region and promote connectivity for trade via Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Transport, India |
 June 2023The Kamalasagar-Tarapur border haat on the border of Bangladesh and India is set to be reopened in July 2023 after four years of having been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Read More Tags: Border Haat, Bangladesh, India |
 May 2023ADB approved a project loan to support upgrading work on the East–West Highway, which is part of the SASEC corridor. According to Ms. Sin Wai Chong, Transport Specialist for South Asia, ADB, the project will strengthen border trade and logistics, and will improve the lives of rural communities. Read More Tags: Nepal, India, Bangladesh, SASEC, Road, ADB, South Asia |
 May 2023The fifth Bangladesh-Nepal joint steering committee (JSC) meeting on energy cooperation discussed greater bilateral cooperation in the power sector. Both countries agreed to undertake efforts to sign a tripartite agreement with India that would enable Nepal to export 40 MW of power to Bangladesh as early as the upcoming wet season (June-November) using the existing transmission infrastructure of the three countries. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Energy |
 May 2023Mr. Amit Shah, Home Minister of the Government of India, laid the foundation stone for the second cargo gate at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) of Petrapole on 9 May 2023. This will enhance border connectivity in the busy ICP where around 30% of land-based trade between Bangladesh and India take place. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation |
 May 2023In the meeting between Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and His Excellency Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Her Excellency Queen Jetsun Pema, Prime Minister Hasina offered Bhutan the possibility of developing an economic zone in Kurigram, Bangladesh. King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck communicated Bhutan’s desire to establish direct transit with Bangladesh through India. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Economic zone, Transport |
 May 2023The meeting reviewed several priorities in energy cooperation, including joint development of cross-border trade projects and energy efficiency projects in Bangladesh, and tripartite investment of Bangladesh, India, and Bhutan in hydropower projects in Bhutan, and import of produced electricity to Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Energy |
April 2023 Japan has proposed the development of a new industrial hub for the Bay of Bengal region. The hub, planned to be built in Bangladesh, will be equipped with supply chains that are connected to India's northeastern region. It will also be linked to Bhutan and Nepal through a planned port and transportation infrastructure. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Economic corridor, Japan |
March 2023 The ongoing construction of the Agartala (India)-Akhaura (Bangladesh) international railway connectivity project has reached over 88% completion. The work is expected to be finished in the next 5-6 months, according to Mr. Sushanta Chowdhury, Tripura transport minister. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Transport, Rail |
 March 2023The Governments of Bangladesh and Bhutan signed the "Agreement on the Movement of Traffic-in-Transit and Protocol" on 22 March 2023 in Thimphu, Bhutan. This will open multimodal transit facilities to landlocked Bhutan, providing them access to Mongla, Payra, and Chattogram ports of Bangladesh for the movement of their imported and export-oriented goods. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Transit, Transport, Trade Facilitation, Ports |
 March 2023Foreign direct investment is effective in promoting economic development according to International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman, speaking at the webinar "Into the Centenary Year: ICC Court visits ICC Bangladesh." Bangladesh is South Asia's second-largest economy and is slated to graduate from the least developed country (LDC) category in November 2026. Read More Tags: FDI, Bangladesh, SASEC, Economic Corridor Development |
March 2023 Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina remarked that India can utilize Bangladesh's Chattogram and Sylhet ports. She stressed the need to boost connectivity to further grow the region’s trade and commerce and enhance people to people linkages. Access to the two ports would mutually benefit both countries, stressed the Prime Minister. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Ports, Trade, Transport |
 March 2023Mr. AK Abdul Momen, Foreign Minister of the Government of Bangladesh, proposed exploring the possibilities of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and Nepal to increase bilateral trade. He noted that there is a huge potential for mutual cooperation between the two countries in areas including energy, tourism, education, migration, and connectivity. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Trade |
 March 2023Watch the video about how the Joydevpur-Elenga-Hatkumrul-Rangpur-Burimari-Banglabandha road benefits local communities and helps facilitate trade with Bhutan, India, and Nepal. The project, committed in 2013, is being undertaken with support from the Asian Develop Bank and is part of SASEC Corridor 4. The Joydevpur-Elenga section was completed in 2022, while improvement work to the Elenga–Rangpur Road is ongoing. Read More Tags: SASEC, Bangladesh, Transport |
February 2023 The Governments of India and Nepal held the 10th joint steering committee meeting of Nepal-India Energy Secretary-level. Discussions were held on important issues including expanding existing, under-construction, and proposed transmission lines. India has also responded positively to Nepal's request to allow export of 50 MW of electricity to Bangladesh via India as per export-import guidelines if a specific proposal is submitted. Read More Tags: India, Nepal, Energy, Bangladesh |
 February 2023Mr. Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Secretary of the Government of India, met with Mr. Masud bin Momen, Foreign Secretary of the Government of Bangladesh. They agreed to further strengthen ongoing bilateral cooperation, in areas of trade and investment, connectivity, power and energy and people-to-people ties. They also agreed to enhance their cooperation and consultations on regional and international issues of shared interest. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Energy, Hydropower |
 February 2023The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) of the Government of India has amended Circular 29/2020-Customs to allow the transshipment of Bangladesh export cargo to third countries via Delhi Air Cargo beginning 15 February 2023. Previously, air transshipment of Bangladesh export cargo to third countries was conducted only via the Kolkata air cargo complex. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation |
January 2023 Bangladesh has opened its Banglabandha Land Port for the import of acrylic yarn from Nepal, ending a 17-year-long restriction. A statutory regulatory order was issued by Bangladesh's National Board of Revenue on the matter. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Trade Facilitation, Trade |
 January 2023A bilateral meeting on electricity cooperation was held between Bangladesh and India. The meeting discussed the continued growth of Bangladesh's power sector and increasing demand for electricity in the country. Mr. Nasrul Hamid, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of the Government of Bangladesh, sought Indian cooperation to allow Bangladesh to import hydropower from Bhutan and Nepal. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Energy |
 January 2023The Government of Bangladesh plans to upgrade its northernmost airport, the Saidpur airport in Nilphamari, into an international airport. Saidpur airport can be a key transit point to boost connectivity between Bangladesh and its BIN neighbors—Bhutan, India’s northeastern region, and Nepal. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Airports, Air Transport, Transport |
 December 2022State highways in Assam, India, are set to be upgraded through a loan approved by the Asian Development Bank. The project will connect SASEC with Bhutan's and Bangladesh's borders. It is expected to improve transport and increase the volume of trade across borders. Read More Tags: SASEC, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Trade, Transport |
November 2022 The COVID-19 pandemic brought a shift to cross-border trade via rail between Bangladesh and India. An article by Dr. Munshi Muhammad Abdul Kader Jilani, Assistant Professor of the Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management, underscores the benefits of developing rail freight transport to further grow bilateral trade, as well as contribute to achieving a sustainable and inclusive development for the SASEC subregion. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Rail |
 November 2022The Sri Lanka Port Authority officials met with Chittagong (Bangladesh) Port officials to improve connectivity for imports and exports transshipped through Singapore and Sri Lanka. Read More Tags: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Trade |
November 2022 Road expansion work for the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Dhaka-Sylhet Corridor Road Investment Project is set to begin in December 2022. Work to expand the highway from two to six lanes aims to reduce travel time and improve road safety. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, SASEC, Transport |
 November 2022The fourth and final trial run to connect Bangladesh’s Chattogram and Mongla ports to India’s northeastern states via the India–Bangladesh Protocol Route concluded on 7 November 2022, ahead of its December schedule. The trial runs were conducted to iron out issues related to transshipment of goods, and align the immigration and customs arrangements in both countries. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, Ports |
 October 2022The Bangladesh Roads and Highways Department signed a contract for road expansion work under the SASEC Dhaka-Sylhet Corridor Road Development Project. The contracted work will expand the 35-kilometer section of the national highway between Narayanganj and Narsingdi districts from two to six lanes to ease traffic. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, SASEC, Economic Corridor Development |
 October 2022Mr. Ghanshyam Bhandari, Ambassador of the Government of Nepal to the Government of Bangladesh, noted when he met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that Nepal will initially supply 40-50 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Bangladesh. Nepal will increase the supply further upon completion of the 900 MW Upper Karnali hydropower project. Read More Tags: Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Energy |
 September 2022The 8th Commerce Secretary Level Meeting (CSLM) between Bangladesh and Bhutan endorsed the Agreement on Movement of Traffic-in-Transit and its Protocol for signing; the renewal of the memorandum of understanding on the use of inland waterways; and the signing of the amended Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) with regard to the MoU on the use of inland waterways. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Trade, Trade Facilitation, Inland waterways |
 September 2022Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s discussions highlighted several developments in bilateral relations in trade and connectivity, power and energy, and people-to-people linkages. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Transport, BBIN, Energy |
August 2022 Bangladesh Railways plans to convert the Dhaka-Chattogram railway line from meter gauge to broad gauge by 2027 with potential financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Read More Tags: Bangladesh, ADB, Transport, Rail |
 August 2022ADB has committed continued support for the improvement of Bangladesh’s key infrastructures as the country carries on its path of post-pandemic recovery. ADB’s 2023–2025 lending pipeline for Bangladesh stands at approximately $9.4 billion for 44 projects. This includes development of roads and railway corridors that will be complemented by necessary reforms to facilitate inter-regional trade. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, Transport |
 August 2022Officials of the Governments of Bangladesh and Nepal attended a luncheon hosted by Mr. Md Shahriar Alam, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh. The event emphasized increasing collaboration between Bangladesh and Nepal in sectors such as hydropower, tourism, connectivity, trade, and people-to-people linkages. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Energy, Trade, Tourism |
August 2022 Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated her offer of access to Bangladesh’s Chittagong and Mongla seaports and Syedpur airport to the people of Nepal during a courtesy call by a Nepal parliamentary delegation. Read More Tags: Ports, Bangladesh, Nepal, Connectivity |
July 2022 The Governments of Bangladesh and India are preparing to conduct comprehensive trial runs for the transshipment of cargo to India's northeastern regions via Bangladesh’s Chattogram and Mongla ports. The planned trial runs aim to iron out issues and align the immigration and customs arrangements in both countries. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, Transport |
 July 2022The potential of the Siliguri corridor and its surroundings to be developed as a logistics hub for India’s northeastern region, and Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, was emphasized by the CII at Logi Connect 2022. Developing Siliguri as a logistic hub would facilitate movement of goods to other states of India and its neighboring countries. Read More Tags: Logistics, Act East Policy, Trade Facilitation, Transport, Transit, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 July 2022Bangladesh aims to invest in Nepal’s Sunkoshi III hydropower project, according to Bangladesh's Ambassador to Nepal, Mr. Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury. The planned project will have a capacity of 683 megawatts and will be established in Lubughat, Khadadevi. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Hydropower, Energy |
 July 2022Regional forums such as South Asia Forum for Infrastructure Regulation, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, and South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation bring together stakeholders and more local or regional institutions are needed to gain optimal benefit from regional cooperation. This commentary appears on the Dhaka Tribune. Read More Tags: Energy, SASEC, SAARC, South Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 June 2022 |
 June 2022ADB and the Government of Bangladesh have signed a loan agreement to improve cross-border trade in Bangladesh. The $143-million policy-based loan aims to improve the volume, efficiency, predictability, and security of cross-border trade in Bangladesh. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation |
 June 2022Bangladesh is undertaking projects to strengthen interregional connectivity, such as ADB-supported South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) initiatives on cross-border connectivity. These SASEC initiatives, through regional and national SASEC transport projects, will develop infrastructure and systems that will improve cross-border connectivity and boost intraregional trade. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Inland waterways, Transport |
 June 2022The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved the SASEC Integrated Trade Facilitation Sector Development Project: Bangladesh Land Port Authority (BLPA) Part with Tk 2.17 billion (around $23.47 million) and SASEC Integrated Trade Facilitation Sector Development Project with Tk 3.13 billion (around $33.85 million). Read More Tags: Bangladesh, SASEC, Trade Facilitation |
 June 2022Railway ministers of India and Bangladesh virtually flagged off the Mitali Express on 1 June 2022. The Railway Ministry of India underscored that Mitali Express will boost both countries’ tourism by connecting Bangladesh with northern West Bengal and the northeastern region of India. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Rail, Transport |
May 2022 |
 May 2022ADB Vice-President Shixin Chen visited the SASEC Chattogram–Cox's Bazar Railway Project and other ADB-assisted projects during a six-day visit to Bangladesh. Mr. Chen was in Dhaka to meet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during which he reaffirmed ADB's commitment to supporting rapid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, ADB, SASEC, Energy, Rail Transport |
April 2022 A bilateral meeting between Bangladesh and Nepal discussed the finalization of the process of importing hydropower from Nepal to Bangladesh. Mr. Nasrul Hamid, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of the Government of Bangladesh, stated that Bangladesh can import surplus electricity from Nepal during the summer and monsoon seasons. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Electricity |
 April 2022The Gorai flyover in Mirzapur upazila, Tangail, was opened to traffic on April 25, 2022. "The flyover will ensure smooth movement of vehicles," said Mr. Noor-e-Alam, additional director of South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC)-1 project, Bangladesh Roads and Highways Department. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, SASEC, Road Transport, ADB, Economic Corridor Development |
 April 2022The Bangladesh Roads and Highways Department signed an $18 million contract with NDE Ltd. and FiberHome Telecommunication Technologies Co. Ltd. for Bangladesh's first dedicated intelligent transport system (ITS) project. The project, under the SASEC Road Connectivity Project 2 (Package 15), is financed by the Asian Development Bank. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, SASEC, Road Transport, ADB |
 March 2022ADB supports the improvement of efficiency, predictability, and security of Bangladesh’s cross-border trade, approving a $143 million loan package that will contribute in accelerating the country’s growth. Bangladesh: SASEC Integrated Trade Facilitation Sector Development Program includes a $90 million policy-based loan and a $53 million project loan. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation |
 March 2022Mr. AK Abdul Momen, Foreign Minister of the Government of Bangladesh, Mr. G.L. Peiris, Foreign Minister of the Government of Sri Lanka, held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 18th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Their meeting underscored the importance of early conclusion of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to help significantly boost bilateral trade between the two countries. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Trade |
 March 2022Survey work being done for three Indian Railway projects in Tripura has been completed, including survey for the Belonia (India) – Feni (Bangladesh) line. This is a 30-kilometer railway link that is planned to be the second Indo-Bangla railway connectivity. Read More Tags: India, India, Bangladesh, Rail |
 March 2022A delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) discussed with officials of the Bangladesh Roads and Highways Department (RHD) South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) projects funded by the ADB, during a meeting at RHD headquarters in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Read More Tags: ADB, SASEC, Bangladesh, Road, Transport |
 March 2022The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Government of Bangladesh and the World Trade Organization (WTO) held a meeting on 16 March 2022 on the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. The NBR highlighted the roadmap developed to modernize Bangladesh’s border customs ports. The NBR has formed a customs legal framework that complies with international standards, and is developing an e-payment system and would adopt an ECTS. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation |
March 2022 The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Government of Bangladesh and the World Trade Organization (WTO) held a meeting on 16 March 2022 on the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. The NBR highlighted the roadmap developed to modernize Bangladesh’s border customs ports. The NBR has formed a customs legal framework that complies with international standards, and is developing an e-payment system and would adopt an ECTS. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation |
 March 2022The MV Lal Bahadur Shastri, a cargo vessel of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), arrived at the Pandu Port in Assam, India, on 6 March 2022. This completes a journey that began in Patna Port in Bihar, India. Its route included National Waterway-1, Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route, and National Waterway-2. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Shipping |
 March 2022Bangladesh is now India's 6th largest trade partner. This significant growth in bilateral trade between the two countries was highlighted at the Commerce Secretary level meeting held on 4 March 2022 in New Delhi, India. The meeting held extensive discussions on issues of mutual interest, including development of railway infrastructure and port infrastructure. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Rail, Ports |
 February 2022The Government of India will create a new waterway connectivity on the Gomati river in Tripura that will facilitate improved trade and movement between Bangladesh and India, and ease transport bottlenecks in the country’s northeastern region. Passenger and cargo vessels will use the new route once opened. Read More Tags: Waterways, Transport, Shipping, Bangladesh, India |
February 2022 Bangladesh's foreign trade volume will increase by 50%, cargo shipment-and customs-clearance time will decrease by 50%, and smuggling will be prevented if the Government of Bangladesh undertakes customs reform and improvement in trade facilitation, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) noted to the Government of Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, ADB, Trade Facilitation |
 February 2022India flagged off a pilot run of a cargo ship using waterways from Patna Port in Bihar, India, for the Pandu Port in Assam, India, via the Jamuna River,Bangladesh, on 5 February 2022. This 2,350 kilometer route that will be traveled by the carrier MV Lal Bahadur Shastri commenced from India’s western part to its northeastern region, passing through Bangladesh, under the Bangladesh-India Protocol for Inland Water Trade and Transit. Read More Tags: Waterways, Shipping, Transport, Bangladesh, India |
February 2022 Bangladesh Railway continues to undertake initiatives to improve the country's rail connectivity across the country and with its neighbors. On 5 February 2022, Bangladesh Railway signed an agreement with the Hindustan Engineering and Industries Limited of India to purchase 420 broad-gauge wagons worth Tk. 231 crore (around $26.89 million) with financing from ADB. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Rail, ADB |
 January 2022India has begun dredging waterways along the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers. Development of the waterways will allow passenger and cargo ships from Assam and the rest of northeastern India to travel to Haldia in West Bengal, India, via Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Transport |
 December 2021Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih held bilateral talks on 23 December 2021 at the President’s Office in Malé, Maldives. They discussed matters of mutual interest and emphasized the importance of signing a Preferential Trade Agreement. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Maldives, Trade, Trade Facilitation |
December 2021 The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of the Government of Bangladesh has drafted a proposal to upgrade trade infrastructure and three priority land ports to improve trade with its neighbors in the subregion. The NBR submitted the proposal for the project “Integrated Trade Facilitation Development under the SASEC Development Program” to the country’s Planning Commission. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, SASEC, ADB |
December 2021 The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and the Nepal Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) signed a memorandum of cooperation. Mr. Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Commerce Secretary of the Government of Bangladesh, spoke as the chief guest. In his remarks, he noted that the Preferential Trade Agreement between Bangladesh and Nepal is in the final stage. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Trade, Trade Facilitation, Trade Facilitation |
December 2021 The Governments of Bangladesh and India renewed their power trading agreement on 2 December 2021. Under the new agreement, India through the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited will supply 192 megawatts (MW) of power to Bangladesh. This is an increase of 20% from the 160 MW India previously supplied Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Energy |
 November 2021The first bilateral consultation between Bangladesh and Maldives acknowledged the excellent relations between the two countries and discussed cooperation, with emphasis on deepening linkages by concluding several bilateral instruments, including agreements on trade and connectivity, and tourism for enhancing people to people to contact. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Maldives, Connectivity |
 November 2021The Bangladesh Planning Commission is aiming to improve the communication network of Benapole, Asian Highway, including Bhomra Land Port and Mongla Sea Port, SAARC Highway Corridor, BIMSTEC Road Corridor, and SASEC Road Corridor with the northwestern region of the country. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, SASEC, Road |
 November 2021Bangladesh's trade with its neighbors accounts for only 10% of national trade. Mr. Yasushi Tanaka, Principal Transport Specialist, Transport and Communications Division, South Asia Department, ADB, explains how small investments in land customs stations and land ports, trade facilitation policy reforms, and cooperation between government agencies can help make Bangladesh a trade and transport hub in South Asia. This commentary first appeared on the ADB blog. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade, Trade Facilitation |
 November 2021In the Araihazar upazila of the Narayanganj District, Bangladesh, a Japanese Economic Zone is being developed by the Government of Bangladesh and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Japan is eyeing to raise $1 billion investment from around 100 companies in the economic zone. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Japan, manufacturing, Economic zone |
 November 2021Mr. Gamini Lakshman Peiris, Foreign Minister of the Government of Sri Lanka, paid a courtesy call to Mr. AK Abdul Momen, Foreign Minister of the Government of Bangladesh. Their meeting emphasized strengthening air and maritime connectivity. Both Foreign Ministers also noted the need to conclude a preferential trade agreement at the earliest possible time to promote bilateral trade. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Connectivity |
October 2021 A multimodal container depot will be constructed in Chattogram City to enhance the port's capacity to handle imports and goods bound for export. Saif Logistics Alliance Ltd. will invest around Tk 300 crore (around $35 million) to develop the facility on a design-build-finance-operate-maintain-transfer basis. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Shipping, Ports, Transport, Rail |
 September 2021A 23-kilometer double railway track from Cumilla to Laksam has been completed and is projected to save travel time on the track. Bangladesh Railway is set to open the line on 25 September 2021. The Dhaka-Chattogram railway corridor is a component of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation corridor in Bangladesh. Read More Tags: ADB, Rail Transport, Bangladesh, SASEC |
 September 2021The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Bangladesh Road Transport and Highways Division (RTHD), and Roads and Highways Department (RHD) held a knowledge sharing webinar on "Strengthening Road Maintenance & Management System of Bangladesh" via Zoom on 14 September 2021. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, SASEC, Road Transport |
 September 2021The government of Bangladesh aims to complete the railway line from Dohazari, Chattogram, to Cox's Bazar by June 2023, after work on the project slowed due to the coronavirus disease pandemic. The SASEC railway project is building a new 102-kilomter dual-gauge single railway line. It will facilitate trade, investment, and travel for tourists and will strengthen the economy of beach communities along the railway. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, SASEC, Rail, Transport |
 September 2021Passenger train services between India and Bangladesh is set to begin soon through the Haldibari-Chilahati border route. This was announced by Mr. Toufique Hasan, Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, on 9 September 2020. Read More Tags: Rail Transport, India, COVID-19, Bangladesh |
 August 2021 |
 August 2021Bangladesh is constructing seven new land ports to improve land connectivity with India's northeast region. The ports will be set up in cooperation with the states of Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura in India to increase trade and improve regional connectivity. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade, Regional Cooperation |
 August 2021The Bangladesh Roads and Highways Department has signed an agreement for two packages under the SASEC road connectivity project. The project aims to develop connectivity between Dhaka and the country's northern region. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, SASEC, Road |
 August 2021The Bangladesh Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved the establishment of a Road Research and Training Center as part of the SASEC Road Connection Project, which will upgrade the Elenga-Hatikumrul-Rangpur Highway to four lanes. The project was approved by the committee during the virtual meeting chaired by Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Road, SASEC |
 August 2021Indian Railways and Bangladesh Railway commenced the regular operation of freight trains on the restored Haldibari (India) - Chilahati (Bangladesh) Rail Route. Indian Railways dispatched a freight train loaded with stones from the Damdim Station of Northeast Frontier Railway (India) to Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Rail, India, Bangladesh, Transport |
 July 2021The Roads and Highways Department of Bangladesh has awarded to contractor Abdul Momen Ltd., also known as AML Construction, the project to widen the highway linking the town of Elenga and the city of Rangpur in northeast Dhaka in Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Road Transport, Bangladesh, SASEC |
 June 2021 |
 June 2021Bangladesh will import around 700 megawatts of hydropower from Nepal to meet its future electricity demand. The country is set to sign an agreement with Nepal for the hydropower import. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Energy, Hydropower |
 June 2021Bangladesh is looking to produce resort wear and leisure apparel for Maldives. Mr. Faruque Hassan, President of BGMEA discussed the potential of tapping this Maldives market with Mr. Shiruzimath Sameer, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Maldives. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Maldives, Trade Facilitation |
 June 2021The Bangladesh Roads and Highways Department is set to incorporate an electronic road operation system to the SASEC Road Connectivity Project II, which is currently under construction. The Tangail-Rangpur Highway project will be the first to be operated electronically using the IT-based intelligence surveillance system to facilitate traffic flow and road safety. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Road, SASEC |
 June 2021Import of goods from India to Bangladesh by trains have seen a significant rise during the coronavirus pandemic. To serve the growing demand for imports by rail and smoothen the transit of goods, work on a double railway line from the Petrapole port in India to the Benapole railway station in Bangladesh has commenced. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade Facilitation, Trade Facilitation |
 June 2021 |
 June 2021The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) is pushing for the development of waterway connections to increase trade between India's northeastern states and Bangladesh. According to Mr. Biswajit Chakraborty, FICCI director for the northeast chapter, developing waterway connectivity would benefit the lives and livelihoods of people living across the Meghna basin. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade, Inland waterways |
May 2021 Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue (NBR) has formulated customs rules to facilitate the movement of Indian goods via Bangladesh to India’s northeastern region and other countries specified in the Bangladesh-India transit and transshipment agreement. Read More Tags: Bangladesh |
 May 2021The National Board of Revenue of the Government of Bangladesh has finalized the draft rules on the faster release and disposal of perishable goods aimed at keeping the quality and standards of perishable goods. The rules specify provisions to release goods within 48 hours of the submission of bill of entry of imported goods. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, Customs, National Board of Revenue |
May 2021 The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in consultation with Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue (NBR), has prepared an action plan in line with the Customs Modernization Plan 2019-2022 of Bangladesh,. ADB supports the improvement of Bangladesh's trade facilitation environment. Read More Tags: ADB, Customs, Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, National Board of Revenue |
 May 2021Work on the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Dhaka-Sylhet Corridor Road Development Project is set to begin, with the Roads and Highways Department opening the first tender for road widening work on the highway. The invitation for bids was sent out on 29 April 2021 for the 35-kilometer section of the highway from Dhaka to Narsingdi. Read More Tags: ADB, SASEC, Transport, Bangladesh, Road, Trade |
April 2021 Experts discussed unique opportunities in river tourism between Bangladesh and India at a public-private dialogue on India-Bangladesh cross-border tourism and cruise operations organized by CUTS International on 29 April 2021. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Inland waterways, Transport, Tourism |
 April 2021Mr. Obaidul Quader, Road Transport and Bridges Minister, Bangladesh, is pushing to begin work to upgrade the Chittagong-Cox's Bazar Highway. The road, one of the busiest in Bangladesh, will be widened to four-lanes to ease traffic along the route and improve subregional connectivity. Read More Tags: Road, Economic Corridor Development, Transport, Bangladesh |
 March 2021India Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a state visit to Bangladesh on 26-27 March 2021 to join celebrations for the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangladesh and India are also commemorating 50 years since the establishment of their diplomatic relations. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, BBIN, Connectivity, Trade Facilitation, Transport |
 March 2021An official meeting between Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 24 March 2021 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, emphasized boosting trade, connectivity, and cooperation in energy between the two South Asian nations. Read More Tags: Bhutan, Bangladesh, Trade, Connectivity, BBIN, Energy |
 March 2021The Governments of Bangladesh and Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Strengthening Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Cooperation on 22 March 2021. SPS, as well as technical barriers to trade (TBT), serves as critical nontariff measures that constrain trade in the SASEC subregion. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, BBIN, Energy, Trade Facilitation, Sanitary and Phytosanitary |
March 2021 Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held bilateral talks on 20 March 2021 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The two leaders comprehensively reviewed various aspects of Bangladesh-Sri Lanka relations, including boosting high level exchanges, deepening trade, and increasing connectivity. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Trade, Connectivity |
 March 2021Bilateral cooperation between the Governments of Bangladesh and the Maldives received a boost with the signing of four MoUs, including a joint commission for comprehensive cooperation and bilateral foreign office consultations. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Maldives, Trade, Shipping, Connectivity |
March 2021 A shipment of lychee drinks will be traveling through inland waterways from Narsingdi, Bangladesh, to Kolkata, India. According to Mr. Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury, Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, Bangladesh, developing inland waterways will lower the cost of shipping and increase trade between India and Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Waterways, Transport, Trade |
 March 2021A multimodal transport project initiative of the Ministry of Civil Aviation of the Government of India, the Airports Authority of India Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Limited, and SpiceXpress, the air cargo division of SpiceJet, transported 48 tonnes of cargo from Dhaka, Bangladesh, to Spain. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, Transit |
 March 2021South Asia needs an integrated energy grid to reduce transmission cost and promote regional economic development, said Mr. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Foreign Secretary of the Government of India. The subregion should bring together buyers and sellers and harmonize regulatory frameworks to harness the potential of the power trade, he added. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Hydropower, Energy, Regional Cooperation |
 March 2021Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the ‘Maitri Setu’ (Friendship Bridge) between India and Bangladesh and other infrastructural projects in Tripura, India, on 9 March 2021. Read More Tags: Bangladesh |
 February 2021The Bangladesh Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) approved on 16 February 2021 the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Dhaka-Sylhet Corridor Road Development project. The project will improve road connectivity and increase trade with neighboring countries. ECNEC gave the approval during a virtual meeting presided over by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Read More Tags: ADB, SASEC, Transport, Bangladesh, Road, Trade |
 January 2021The Governments of Bangladesh and India held their Foreign Office Consultations on 29 January 2021 in New Delhi, India. The meeting held a comprehensive review of progress achieved in their bilateral relationship in areas such as cooperation on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), trade, connectivity, development partnership, power, energy, and regional cooperation. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Connectivity, Energy, Trade, COVID-19 |
 January 2021The 19th Joint Steering Committee meeting on Bangladesh-India cooperation in the power sector held on 23 January 2021 at Dhaka, Bangladesh reviewed the status of power trade between the two countries. They also discussed energy trade involving Nepal and Bhutan. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Energy, India |
 January 2021Mr. Tipu Munshi, Minister of Commerce of the Government of Bangladesh, called for more discussions between Bangladesh and India on the removal of non-tariff barriers to further grow their bilateral trade. There is ample opportunity to boost trade by removing non-tariff barriers. Improving customs facilities in bordering areas could also further increase bilateral trade between the two countries. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade Facilitation, Non-tariff barriers |
 December 2020The virtual summit held by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed their bilateral relationship amid the challenges brought on by COVID-19. They also jointly inaugurated the newly restored railway link between Haldibari (India) and Chilahati (Bangladesh), and agreed to soon operationalize the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA). Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, BBIN, Connectivity, Energy, Trade, Health |
 December 2020The governments of Bangladesh and Bhutan have signed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) on 6 December 2020. The PTA aims to further facilitate and promote bilateral trade between the two countries. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering witnessed the signing virtually. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Trade, Preferential Trade Agreement |
 October 2020A webinar organized by CUTS International on 30 October 2020 deliberated the findings of the project, ‘Gender Dimensions of Trade Facilitation in the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) Subregion.’ The work undertaken by CUTS reveals that the absence of gender responsive trade facilitation measures helps exacerbate gender inequality. Read More Tags: BBIN, Gender, Trade Facilitation, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Trade |
 October 2020Establishment of road connectivity between Bangladesh and Bhutan would give a boost to bilateral trade between the two countries, emphasized Mr. AK Abdul Momen, Foreign Minister of the Government of Bangladesh, in his meeting with Mr. Rinchen Kuentsyl, Bhutan Ambassador to Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Free Trade Agreement |
 October 2020Bangladesh and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have agreed to fast-track projects to help economic recovery and job creation in the country. Bangladesh and ADB have pledged to accelerate approval for large contracts, implement health safety guidelines, and provide virtual training opportunities to project staff members and beneficiaries. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, ADB |
 October 2020The Governments of Bangladesh and Nepal held a secretary-level meeting virtually to negotiate a preferential trade agreement. Bangladesh has requested zero-duty benefit on the export of 140 products to Nepal. Nepal has proposed duty-free facility for 130 products. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Trade |
 September 2020India's northeastern states are working to improve infrastructure and connectivity to help reduce the cost of transport and basic commodities. India's northeastern region is the country's gateway to East and Southeast Asia, and India is promoting transport and energy connectivity with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Nepal, explains Mr. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Foreign Secretary of the Government of India. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Transport, Energy |
 September 2020The Bangladesh Executive Committee of the National Economic Council has approved a road expansion program through the SASEC Road Link Project II: Elenga-Hatikamrul-Rangpur Highway Four-Lane Upgradation. The project will be part of a road network connecting Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal that would increase trade and commerce in the subregion. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Economic Corridor Development, India, Nepal, SASEC, Transport |
September 2020 A trial run for the first export consignment from Bangladesh to Tripura, India, through inland waterways was conducted on 3–5 September 2020. The barge traveled 93 kilometers along the Meghna-Gomati river route carrying 50 tons of cement. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Waterways, Trade Facilitation, Transport |
 August 2020The Government of Bangladesh approved a Tk 848.3 crore (around $100 million) for a road widening project that would help broaden bilateral trade with India. Under the project, the 38km Baraiyerhat-Hiako-Ramgarh road in the Khagrachhari district will be widened. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade, Transport |
 August 2020Mr. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Foreign Secretary of the Government of India, paid a visit to Dhaka, Bangladesh, to take forward cooperation on matters of mutual interest. His meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina discussed India-Bangladesh connectivity and power projects, as well as India’s developmental assistance for Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Energy, Transport |
 August 2020Prolonged closure of border haats will decrease income opportunities for border residents of both India and Bangladesh. But if border haats are to be reopened, operational guidelines will have to be amended to ensure personal and public safety in the time of COVID-19. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Border Haat, Trade, COVID-19 |
August 2020 The cabinet of the Government of Bangladesh has approved the draft addendum to the protocol to the transit agreement with the Government of Nepal. The addendum adds Rohonpur in Chapainawabganj (Bangladesh) as a railway transit entry and exit point. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Rail, Transport |
 July 2020The Government of India turned over 10 broad gauge railway locomotives to Bangladesh as part of a grant assistance on 27 July 2020. The two nations are committed to ramp up initiatives in connectivity and infrastructure to boost bilateral trade and promote the creation of new supply chains amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Rail, Connectivity |
July 2020 Bangladesh Railways and Indian Railways rolled out initiatives to support importers and exporters through the current COVID-19 health crisis and minimize the disruption in the supply chain. They rolled out a container train service and parcel train service, after reaching the milestone of recording the most number of freight trains interchanged within a month. Read More Tags: Rail, Bangladesh, India |
July 2020 The Government of Nepal gave the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) approval to sell electricity to Bangladesh and India. Approval of Nepal Cabinet allows NEA to fix the price on the basis of competition, according to a report on the Himalayan Times. NEA can engage in electricity trade when domestic production is high and/or when production is low. Read More Tags: Nepal, Electricity, Energy, Bangladesh, India |
July 2020 The coronavirus pandemic has slowed the implementation of Asian Development Bank-funded projects in Bangladesh, including the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Road Connectivity Project-1 and 2 and the SASEC Chattogram-Cox's Bazar Railway Project. As the country proceeds to lift lockdown restrictions, implementing agencies are preparing plans for the full resumption of work on construction sites. Read More Tags: ADB, SASEC, Transport, Road, Rail, Bangladesh |
 July 2020Extensive connectivity in the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal subregion is needed to respond to economic vulnerabilities brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. Increased connectivity through trade and transport infrastructure, such as those under the South Asian Subregional Economic Cooperation program, help the Asian Development Bank in its work to reduce poverty and promote gender equality. Read More Tags: ADB, SASEC, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Transport, Jobs |
July 2020 The South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Road Connectivity Project Road Connectivity Project, which will connect Bangladesh with regional and international transport networks, is 75.48% completed. The Government of Bangladesh is also upgrading the Elenga-Hatikumrul highway to include four lanes with service lanes on both sides. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Transport, Road, SASEC |
 July 2020The second addendum to the Protocol of Inland Water Transit and Trade, which was signed on 20 May 2020 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, added 2 new water routes and 10 new ports of call to the protocol to facilitate bilateral trade. With the signing of the addendum, new opportunities are opening up for small producers and marginalized communities, according to this commentary by Mr. Bipul Chatterjee, Executive Director, CUTS International. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Trade, Ports, Waterways |
July 2020 A new direct shipping service was introduced between the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata, India, and the Chattogram (Chittagong) Port in Bangladesh, through the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route. It promises to reduce time and cost of transit of goods, as well as lessen dwell time and bring more predictability in shipments. Read More Tags: Shipping, Bangladesh, India |
 June 2020Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation nations need to be prepared for imminent shifts in global manufacturing that may occur following policy changes to respond to the COVID-19 global health crisis. Read More Tags: BIMSTEC, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Trade |
 June 2020The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) proposed a Bilateral Value Chain Initiative (BVCI) as a way forward in Bangladesh-India business relations. Under a proposed memorandum of understanding between FBCCI and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), raw materials from India will be transported to Bangladesh for production. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Value Chains, Trade, Trade Facilitation |
 June 2020The Government of Bangladesh and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed the agreement for the Transport Connectivity Improvement Preparatory Facility. This project readiness financing (PRF), worth $57.23 million, will support the preparation of priority transport projects in Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Transport, Bangladesh, Road, Rail, Transit Facilitation |
 June 2020The Governments of Bangladesh and Bhutan finalized the terms and conditions of the preferential trade agreement (PTA) on 16 June 2020. The PTA aims to increase bilateral trade between the two nations. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Trade, Bilateral Agreement |
 June 2020Cross-border trade between India and Bangladesh through the Phulbari land port (India) and the Banglabandha land port (Bangladesh) resumed on 13 June 2020. On the day the land port reopened, 63 trucks carrying boulders went into Bangladesh. Boulders are mainly exported to Bangladesh from India and Bhutan through Phulbari. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade Facilitation |
June 2020 Bilateral trade resumed through the Petrapole Integrated Check Post at the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal on 7 June 2020. As safety protocol, drivers from India are only allowed up to 500 meters inside the Bangladesh port area. They are given personal protective equipment (PPEs), hand gloves, and masks. They need to remain in their vehicles during unloading. Empty trucks need to be sanitized. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade Facilitation |
 June 2020The Asian Development Bank has expanded its support for Bangladesh's private sector through its Trade Finance Program. Enhancing the program will raise exports and imports, increase jobs, and contribute to economic development in Bangladesh. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Trade, Covid19 |
 May 2020Bangladesh and India signed the second addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade to add two new water routes and 10 ports of call between the two countries. The new routes and ports will improve connectivity, facilitate trade, and spur economic development. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Ports, Trade Facilitation, Waterways |
 April 2020 |
 March 2020The Governments of Bangladesh and India will undertake a joint study on an advanced free trade agreement under the banner of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA). The terms of reference (TOR) for the study have been finalized. Outcomes will be critical to deciding whether the free trade agreement will be inked. Read More Tags: Trade, Bangladesh, India |
 March 2020The Government of Bangladesh and the Asian Development Bank signed on 15 March 2020 a $400 million loan agreement to upgrade the Dhaka-Northwest international road corridor. The project, under the Second South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Dhaka-Northwest Corridor Road Project, helps connect Bangladesh with Bhutan, India, and Nepal. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, SASEC, Transport, Road |
 March 2020The Bangladesh cabinet approved the draft of the second revision of the Protocol on Inland Water, Transit and Trade. This draft amends the existing agreement between Bangladesh and India on raising the number of ports of call between the two countries to deepen trade via waterways. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Ports, Waterways, Trade |
 February 2020The Government of Bangladesh will introduce procedures to fast-track processing of cross-border trade in Bangladeshi ports. Beginning July, Bangladesh will implement a pre-arrival processing of import documents. Once this is in place, cargo shippers will need to submit an import general manifest and bill of lading to the Customs authority for processing once they depart a port en route to Bangladesh’s ports. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, Shipping |
 February 2020The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, chaired by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, approved the proposal to enhance the capacity of Mongla port. The project is estimated to cost Tk 6,015 crore (around $710.79 million). Mongla port can be used to facilitate transit of goods to and from Bhutan, India, and Nepal. Increasing its capacity will hopefully encourage the three countries to use it further for transit of goods. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Shipping, Transit Facilitation |
 February 2020Mr. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Nepal, went on an official visit to Bangladesh in February 2020. His meetings included bilateral talks with Mr. AK Abdul Momen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh on 18 February, and a courtesy call to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 19 February. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Trade, Transit Facilitation, Transport |
 February 2020Policymakers and experts have begun discussions on the creation of a regional power grid for Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member countries. Read More Tags: BIMSTEC, Bangladesh, Cooperation, Energy, Nepal |
 February 2020The Asian Development Bank has approved $42 million facility for project readiness financing (PRF) to improve transport connectivity in Bangladesh. The PRF will promote multimodal transport and support project preparation for road and railway projects and to help the country meet its growing transport needs. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Rail, SASEC, Transport |
 February 2020Representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal (BBIN) met in New Delhi, India, on 8 February 2020 to discuss and push for the finalization of the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement. Read More Tags: BBIN, Motor Vehicles Agreement, Transport, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, |
 December 2019The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will support trade facilitation in Bangladesh under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) program. A proposed project aims to ease transborder and regional trade through infrastructure development and regulatory reforms. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Customs, SASEC, Trade Facilitation |
 December 2019 |
 December 2019The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has committed to a loan of $195 million to improve the highway section between Pokhara and Mugling in Nepal. The highway section links Pokhara to Kathmandu and to subregional corridors connecting Nepal with India and Bangladesh. Read More Tags: ADB, SASEC, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Trade, Transport |
 November 2019The Bangladesh Bhutan India Nepal (BBIN) Chamber of Commerce was launched in New Delhi, India, to foster connections and develop trade and commerce among the partner countries. Read More Tags: BBIN, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Trade |
 September 2019Economic corridor development is an effective policy that could promote sustainable growth in Bangladesh. It is a tool that enables the proliferation of industry, creates jobs, upgrades infrastructure, and links production centers with global value chains. It also helps create markets in lagging regions. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Economic Corridor Development, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Regional Integration, Trade, Transport |
 September 2019Asian Development Bank (ADB) handed over to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ADB’s Country Operations Business Plan for 2020–2022. The plan programs around $5 billion in projects to promote sustainable growth in Bangladesh, and prioritizes skills development participation in global value chains through the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation partnership. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, SASEC, ADB, Regional Cooperation, Transport, Rail |
 September 2019Bangladesh is in talks with Bhutan, India, Myanmar, and Nepal to import electricity to meet Bangladesh’s growing energy demand. This was according to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was speaking via videoconferencing at the inauguration of four power plants and eight substations in the country. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Energy, India, Myanmar, Nepal |
 August 2019Mr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of the Government of India, visited Bangladesh 19–21 August 2019. He called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and discussed matters concerning her upcoming visit to India in October. He also met with Mr. AK Abdul Momen, Foreign Minister of the Government of Bangladesh. The two officials discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh |
 August 2019Thailand and India have signed a memorandum of understanding that will promote a new maritime route between Thailand’s Ranong Port and India’s Krishnapatnam Port. The deal is part of Thailand’s policy to strengthen trade with Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka under the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) framework. Read More Tags: BIMSTEC, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trade |
 August 2019Infrastructure bottlenecks will need to be removed to effectively implement the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement. According to Mr. Bipul Chatterjee, Executive Director, CUTS International, addressing the many short-term challenges would bring long-term benefits and result in a win-win situation for all member countries. Read More Tags: BBIN, Motor Vehicles Agreement, Transport, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 August 2019The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Development Fund (SDF) and Drukair Corporation signed a $13 million loan agreement to help DrukAir purchase a new ATR Aircraft. This is SDF’s first loan under its economic and infrastructure window. Mr. Sunil Motiwal, Chief Executive Officer of SDF, noted that this assistance will help Bhutan expand its aviation connectivity to Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Transport, SAARC |
 August 2019The upcoming meeting will discuss the proposed Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Bilateral Free Trade Agreement. It will also discuss the implementation plan for the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement between the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, and the Memorandum of Understanding on Standards between the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution and the Sri Lanka Standards Institute. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Free Trade Agreement |
 August 2019South Asia has been the fastest growing subregion in the world. Since 2014, its eight economies have been collectively growing by 7.0% annually. But in order to continue performing well in the coming years, the region will need reforms and investments. By promoting regional cooperation and integration, for example, South Asia can accelerate economic growth and boost employment. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Trade, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka |
 July 2019An Indian cargo ship carrying a shipment of stone aggregate from Bhutan has arrived in Bangladesh. It passed through the Brahmaputra River in India. It was the first shipment to take the route, saving an estimated 30% transportation cost and travelling at half the time it would take for the shipment to travel by land. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Inland waterways, Transport |
 July 2019Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance, India, announced during her budget speech on 5 July 2019 that the opening of a protocol route between India and Bangladesh would be the start of a water grid program. The water grid would connect India’s northeaster region to Kolkata and Haldia ports in India and Mongla port in Bangladesh, allowing for seamless movement of import and export cargo and reduced logistics cost. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Inland waterways, Transport |
 June 2019Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are set to sign a free trade agreement, which is expected to increase bilateral trade between the two countries. Trade is expected to grow at a steady pace with the planned FTA, says Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Mr. Riaz Hamidullah. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Trade Facilitation Agreement |
 June 2019 |
 June 2019Nepal will welcome private and public sector investments from Bangladesh, said Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Secretary, Nepal, Mr. Dinesh Kumar Ghimire. He said Nepal and Bangladesh are looking to boost trade and business with each other and should explore new areas of cooperation. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Energy, Hydropower, Investments, Nepal, Solar Energy |
 May 2019Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Konabary and Chandra flyovers; the Kaliakair, Deohata, Mirzapur, and Gharinda underpasses; and the Kadda-1 and Bimail bridges on the Joydebpur-Chandra-Tangail-Elenga highway under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation countries (SASEC) road connectivity project. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Economic Corridor Development, SASEC, Transport |
 May 2019India could play a crucial role in interconnecting regional energy networks. In this commentary, Mr. Mahendra P. Lama outlines what India needs to approach energy security projects in India and its neighboring countries. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Renewable Energy, Regional Cooperation, Nepal, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Trade, Transport |
 March 2019India said it would support Nepal’s energy sector as Nepal seeks to export energy to third countries, such as Bangladesh and Myanmar. The move will provide power producers in Nepal access to international markets for energy export. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Energy, India, Myanmar, Nepal |
 January 2019The Government of Bangladesh has signed an agreement with a Bandgladesh-China joint venture to upgrade 190 kilometers of the Elenga–Hatikumrul–Rangpur section of the Dhaka-Northwest Corridor, under the SASEC program. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Road, SASEC, Transport |
 January 2019Border haats or rural markets along the border of Bangladesh and India help to strengthen ties between the two countries, both culturally and economically. These border haats benefit local communities by providing opportunities for livelihood and social interaction. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bilateral Trade, India, Trade Facilitation |
 December 2018Nepal and Bangladesh have agreed to build cross-border transmission lines between the two countries, to supply electricity generated in Nepal to Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Energy, Nepal |
 October 2018 |
 October 2018Bangladesh and India signed three bilateral memoranda of understanding to strengthen transport between the two countries using inland waterways. The pacts include an agreement for the use of Mongla and Chattogram (formerly Chittagong) ports in Bangladesh for transporting goods to and from India and the operation of cruise vessels on the protocol routes. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Shipping, Transport, Inland waterways |
 October 2018PTC India Limited and the Bangladesh Power Development Board signed two new power purchase agreements on 9 October 2018 to add 200 megawatts of power import from India to Bangladesh. The contracts, worth $1.8 billion, will be supplied to Bangladesh on a short- and long-term basis. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Energy, Trade |
 October 2018A seminar on inland waterways emphasized on the potential impact of connectivity between India and Nepal. As a cost-effective, safe, and environment-friendly transport option, it could shape the future of trade, tourism, and navigation between India and Nepal, according to Mr. Barsha Man Pun, Minister of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Government of Nepal. Access to India's Haldia port may also open the market to Nepal’s less marketed commodities, noted Mr. Pun. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Shipping, Transport, Inland waterways |
 September 2018Mr. Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation, Government of India, and Mr. Tofail Ahmed, Minister of Commerce, Government of Bangladesh, held a bilateral meeting on 26 September 2018 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to discuss matters of trade, investment, and connectivity. The two ministers agreed to undertake a joint study for a potential Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, and fast-track six new border haats. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Connectivity, Trade, Border Haat, Ports, Rail |
 September 2018The 15th Meeting of the Bangladesh-India Joint Steering Committee on Power Sector reviewed the existing cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector. Bangladesh plans to import an additional 340 megawatt electricity through the Surjomoni-Cumilla North Link, under government-to-government modality. The meeting also reviewed the proposal to set up a power transmission line that will enable Bangladesh to import electricity from Bhutan and Nepal through India. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Energy, Transmission |
 September 2018Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a video conference, jointly inaugurated the 130-kilometer India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline Project, and the third and fourth dual-gauge rail lines in the Dhaka-Tongi section and dual-gauge rail line in the Tongi-Joydebpur section of Bangladesh Railway. The pipeline will support pumping of oil from India to Bangladesh, helping fulfill the country’s energy needs at less costly rates. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Rail |
 September 2018The Bangladesh Cabinet approved the proposal to allow India access to its Chittagong and Mongla ports to transport cargo to its northeastern region. This will reduce transit time and help traders save costs. International rules and the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade will be applied, as well as applicable laws and rules on freight in Bangladesh. Goods bound for India's northeastern region will be carried onboard Bangladeshi vehicles that will be equipped with tracking systems. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Ports, Shipping |
 August 2018Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli agreed to take Bangladesh-Nepal cooperation in the energy sector to the next level. Mr. Ihsanul Karim, Bangladesh Press Secretary, reported that the two Prime Ministers discussed enhancing cooperation in the power sector, and agreed on the need to sign a memorandum of understanding to enable power trade. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, BIMSTEC, Energy |
 August 2018How efficiently a country moves physical goods across and within borders determines how it participates in international markets. This editorial from The Financial Express suggests areas that Bangladesh needs to focus on to improve logistics performance, enhance participation in global trade, and stimulate economic growth. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Customs, Trade Facilitation, Transport, World Bank |
August 2018 Trade between Bangladesh and India is estimated to cross a landmark $9 billion. Between July 2017-June 2018, growth of Bangladesh's garment exports to India jumped by 113%, amounting to $276 million. Exports of other products also increased by 30%, bringing in an additional $201 million. In total, Bangladesh's exports to India is set to close at almost $900 million. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade |
 August 2018India’s GMR Upper Karnali Hydropower Ltd. is set to sign a power purchase agreement with the Bangladesh government to export electricity to be generated by the Upper Karnali Hydropower Project in Nepal. The agreement will serve as a guiding framework for Nepal for exporting surplus electricity to Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Energy, Electricity |
 August 2018A Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry business delegation held a meeting with the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority to discuss bilateral trade and investment expansion between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan businessmen expressed desire to take advantage of Bangladesh's business-friendly environment. According to Mr. Aminul, Sri Lankan entrepreneurs are interested to invest in LPG wholesaling, the financial sector, information technology, and port logistics. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Investment, Bilateral Agreement, ICT, Ports |
 July 2018The Governments of Bangladesh and India are considering development of "border haats" (border markets) in six new locations to further boost Bangladesh-India trade. A joint committee meeting highlighted the positive impact of border haats to the livelihoods of people in border communities. The meeting emphasized the need to draft an MoU and provide a timeline for setting up new border haats in the northeastern region of India. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade |
 June 2018By investing in infrastructure that improves connectivity and reduces transport times to key markets, South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation countries could reap major benefits, a new Asian Development Bank study says. Read More Tags: SASEC, ADB, Trade, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, World Bank |
 May 2018The fourth Bangladesh-Nepal Commerce Secretary Meeting on Trade, Transit, and Economic Cooperation focused on enhancing bilateral trade and narrowing the trade imbalance between the two nations. The delegations agreed to prioritize reviewing the operational modality for transit cargo, committed concluding the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, and agreed to review non-tariff barriers hindering growth of Nepal's key export products to Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Trade, Transit, Economic cooperation |
 May 2018Bangladesh’s Executive Committee of the National Economic Council has approved a project to install a high-voltage direct-current back-to-back substation at Comilla in Bangladesh for importing 500 megawatts of electricity from Tripura, India. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Energy, India, SASEC, Trade, Rail, Transport |
 May 2018Plans are being drafted to turn Silchar, a city in Assam, India, into a logistics hub. Multimodal transport linkages from Silchar to Myanmar and to Bangladesh are being considered, in line with the Government of India's "Act East" policy. These will decongest Guwahati and place Silchar at the forefront of growing economic relations between India's northeastern states and Bangladesh and the countries in Southeast Asia. Read More Tags: India, Act East Policy, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand, Economic Corridor Development |
 May 2018The 9th Annual Ministerial Meeting of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) on Trade and Transport was held to discussed key issues in transport, transit cooperation, trade, and trade facilitation among LLDCs. Bhutan and Nepal sent delegations to the Meeting. They highlighted initiatives being taken to connect their countries to the global market, including bilateral agreements in the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal subregion and the SASEC Trade Facilitation Program. Read More Tags: Trade, Trade Facilitation, Sustainable Development Goals, Cooperation, Connectivity, Bilateral Agreement, Bilateral Trade, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, SASEC, India, Transport, Ports, Customs, Roads, Single Window |
 May 2018The BIMSTEC Working Group on Customs Cooperation held its first meeting on 10-11 May 2018 in New Dehi, India. The Meeting discussed progress in customs cooperation among BIMSTEC countries, and finalized the draft text of the 'Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters' for the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area. Read More Tags: BIMSTEC, Customs, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Trade |
 May 2018The Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India is reviewing feasibility studies for potential railway linkages between India and Bhutan. The studies conducted by the Northeast Frontier Railway include five possible routes. Read More Tags: India, Bhutan, Transport, Rail, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal |
 May 2018The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council of the Government of Bangladesh approved revisions to the project to upgrade the Joydevpur-Chandra-Tangail-Elenga Road into a four-lane highway. Revisions include extension of deadline and increase in funding. The Asian Development Bank will provide financing support through the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) road connectivity project. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, ADB, SASEC, Transport, Road, Trade, Regional Cooperation |
 April 2018Bangladesh, India, and Nepal conducted a trial bus service run on 24-25 April 2018. Two buses left Dhaka, Bangladesh, for Kathmandu, Nepal, carrying delegates from the three countries and the ADB. The Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement enables the bus service. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, BBIN, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Transport |
 April 2018The Government of Bangladesh will sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Government of Thailand, according to Commerce Minister of the Government of Bangladesh Tofail Ahmed. The FTA promises to boost trade between the two countries, which stands around $2 billion. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Thailand, FTA, Trade, Imports, Exports |
 April 2018The Bangladesh National Board of Revenue (NBR) will act as lead agency for the planned National Single Window (NSW) for trade facilitation in Bangladesh, shared NBR Chairman Md. Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan. This initiative is another Government undertaking in line with the implementation of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Single Window, Trade Facilitation |
 April 2018Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Asian countries should strive for connectivity and invest in youth and women to address inequality and to help stabilize the region. She was addressing Asian leaders at the Commonwealth Business Forum in London. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Gender, Connectivity |
 April 2018The Government of Bangladesh's Cabinet Committee on Purchase approved a proposal to import 500 megawatts of electricity from India from June 2018 to May 2033 to help meet the country's energy demand. The Committee also cleared a proposal appointing Texmaco Rail and Engineering from India to build the dual gauge rail line from Akhaura to Agartala. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Energy, Rail, Transport, Transmission |
 April 2018India led a test run of the first container freight train from Kolkata, India, to Dhaka, Bangladesh on 3-4 April 2018. The rail service will be the first container train service between the two countries. It will reduce cost and transport time, thereby improving trade between India and Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Rail, Trade Facilitation, Trade |
 March 2018Selected commercial and personal vehicles, including a passenger bus service, will join a trial run from Dhaka, Bangladesh to Kathmandu, Nepal on 23-26 April 2018. The route will pass through the Banglabandha (Bangladesh)-Phulbari (India) border and through Panitanki (India)-Kakarbhitta (Nepal) border. Senior officials of the governments of Bangladesh, India, and Nepal have agreed to operate more cargo and passenger buses along key routes in the region to enhance connectivity. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Transport |
 March 2018The Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka emphasized the need for the country to build stronger maritime and air links with Bangladesh to increase bilateral trade and investments. Improving linkages between Sri Lanka's Hambantota/Colombo ports and Bangladesh's Chittagong port will encourage more shipping, tourism, and investments, according to the Ministry. Read More Tags: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Shipping |
 March 2018The Ministry of Shipping of the Government of India will propose to add the Pangaon river terminal into the India-Bangladesh protocol for inland water trade at the upcoming secretary-level talks between the two countries. Located 20 kilometers away from Dhaka, Bangladesh, the Pangaon container terminal can provide a cost-effective means to transport goods between Kolkata and Dhaka. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Shipping |
 March 2018Bangladesh's 'Look East Policy' and Thailand's 'Look West Policy' could be synchronized to create new trade and economic connectivity corridors, according to Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-chaon during a meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali. They discussed a range of bilateral cooperation, including shipping, trade, energy, and those under BIMSTEC. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Thailand, Shipping, Energy, Trade, Transport |
 March 2018As Bangladesh's economy expands, its demand for energy also increases. The Bangladesh National Conservation Strategy projects that by 2030, the country's electricity demand will reach around 34,000 megawatts. In this commentary, Mr. Promod Rijal, senior economist at the Institute for Integrated Development Studies in Nepal, explains how transboundary energy trade between Bangladesh and Nepal through India will help Bangladesh meet its energy needs. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Energy, Trade, BBIN |
 February 2018This video showcases how innovations for trade facilitation have enabled businesses in the BBIN subregion to tap into regional value chains and flourish globally. More developments in facilitating trade and enhancing connectivity are planned and underway to help boost trade, enhance regional integration, and promote economic opportunities. Read More Tags: BBIN, Transport, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
February 2018 The Government of Bangladesh plans to convert around 67 kilometers of meter-gauge rail line into dual gauge to establish railway connectivity with Bhutan, India, and Nepal. This move could help boost trade among the three countries. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Rail, Transport |
 February 2018Bangladesh is looking to expand the market share of its goods in Nepal. Ms. Mashfee Binte Shams, Bangladeshi Ambassador to Nepal, reviews the opportunities for Bangladesh manufacturers and explains what her country is doing to promote its products in Nepal. This interview of Ms. Shams, conducted by Ibrahim Hossain Ovi, first appeared on Dhaka Tribune. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Exports, Imports, Trade Facilitation |
 February 2018Bangladesh's interest to harness Nepal's hydropower potential could be a win-win for both countries, with India playing the role of catalyst, shared Mr. Mostofa Sohrab Chowdhury, President, Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Bangladesh's projected additional energy demand is 21,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030, while Nepal's untapped economically feasible hydropower potential is 42,000 MW. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Cooperation, Energy, Hydropower, Transmission |
 February 2018India will supply an additional 300 megawatts (MW) to Bangladesh through the state-run NTPC Ltd. This additional energy export will begin once the 500 MW high voltage direct current Bangladesh-India inter-connection is commissioned. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Energy |
 February 2018Bangladesh and India held a Commerce Secretary-level meeting on 7-8 February 2018 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The discussions focused on issues concerning bilateral trade and economic relations, including infrastructure upgrading at border trading points; expansion of border haats (markets); identification and resolution of non-tariff issues affecting bilateral trade; regional connectivity under the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicle Agreement; and ease of investment. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Bilateral Trade |
February 2018 Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Bangladesh Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu discussed trade, connectivity, and investment on the sidelines of "Advantage Assam." Prime Minister Tobgay remarked on the increasing demand for Bangladeshi-made medicines in Bhutan and expressed its intention to import more. Read More Tags: Bhutan, Bangladesh, Trade |
 February 2018Exporters from Nepal shipped over 35 truckloads of ginger to Bangladesh between mid-December 2017 to January 2018. This volume of ginger traded by Nepal to Bangladesh is the largest it has exported to a third country in over a decade. The Treaty of Transit between India and Nepal facilitates movement of Nepal's third country trade with and through Bangladesh, via India. Read More Tags: Nepal, Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation |
 January 2018Rapid economic growth and increasing populations pose challenges to the South Asian region’s energy security. Increasing energy cooperation among South Asian countries will help ensure access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for the entire region. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, BBIN, BIMSTEC, Energy, Regional Cooperation, Hydropower, SAARC |
 January 2018South Asian Women Development Forum (SAWDF) will promote products by women entrepreneurs in markets in SAARC countries. A Women Entrepreneur International Trade and Technology Hub will be developed in Visakhapatnam, India, with ADB assistance. The Hub will serve as a one-stop platform for women entrepreneurs and provide training on international trade and business. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, SAARC, Sri Lanka, Trade |
 December 2017India's Ministry of Shipping reported planned dredging works in the Zakiganj-Ashuganj section of the Kushiyara river and in the Sirajganj-Daikhowa section of the Jamuna river to help develop year-round navigation. Dredging will be executed by the two countries, subsequent to the decision taken in the meeting of the Shipping Secretaries in December 2016. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Transport |
 December 2017India's Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will prioritize plans to construct 2,000 kilometers of roads linking India's major highway corridors to international trade points in South Asia. MoRTH Minister Nitin Gadkari highlights that this plan, worth Rs 25,000 crore, will facilitate export/import trade with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Nepal. The Ministry also took steps to operationalize the BBIN MVA. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Transport |
 November 2017Experts at the launching of UNCTAD’s The Least Developed Countries Report 2017 urged the Government of Bangladesh to strengthen the country’s electrical system and address electricity governance and finance to ensure affordable power supply to homes and businesses. Despite significant improvements over the past decade, challenges remain, according to the Report. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Energy, LDC, Nepal, Sustainable Development Goals, UNCTAD |
 November 2017Nepal has decided to join the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) grid interconnection, a move meant to help facilitate trade in electricity and take full advantage of available energy sources. Nepal is expected to sign an MOU to join the grid interconnection at the Third BIMSTEC Energy Ministers' Meeting. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, BIMSTEC, Energy, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Trade Facilitation |
 November 2017An Asian Development Bank report suggests that a shift in India’s electricity policy could help address the acute electricity shortages faced by SAARC countries, which affects socioeconomic development as well as business operations. Policy amendments could help facilitate cross-border power trade among SAARC countries and give communities better access to electricity. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Energy, India, Maldives, Nepal, SAARC, Sri Lanka, Trade |
 October 2017The Asian Development Bank has submitted the Comprehensive Development Plan for the proposed Southwest Bangladesh Economic Corridor to the Government of Bangladesh. This strategic framework document will guide the efficient implementation of economic corridor projects, integrating industry, urban, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Economic Corridor Development |
 October 2017Completion of infrastructure to connect inland waterways of India and Bangladesh could ease movement between the two countries, and make transport of freight to Nepal and Bhutan faster and less expensive. Opening inland waterways would make alternative modes of transport viable and could open up livelihood opportunities, helping facilitate trade in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal, according to experts attending a forum on subregional inland waterways. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Poverty Reduction, Sustainable Development Goals, Transport |
 October 2017The new-look SASEC website is fully mobile-friendly and automatically adjusts to fit the screen you are using — computer, tablet, or mobile phone—making it a convenient choice for staying in touch with regional cooperation throughout South Asia. SASEC has also updated to HTTPS for enhanced cybersecurity and user privacy. Read More Tags: SASEC, ICT, Regional Cooperation, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Maldives |
October 2017 The Asian Development Bank has approved $1.2 billion financing support for the second phase upgrade of the Dhaka-Northwest international trade corridor, the second busiest artery in Bangladesh. Upgrading this corridor will improve access to the Burimari Land Port, which links Bangladesh to Bhutan through India, potentially increasing trade. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, India, Road, Transport |
 October 2017Ms. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs, India, and Mr. Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, Foreign Minister, Bangladesh, co-chaired the Fourth India-Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) Meeting, reviewing progress on key initiatives and decisions in areas including trade and investment, security, connectivity, border management, power, energy, shipping, and people-to-people exchange. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Connectivity, Energy, Hydropower, Trade, Investment |
 October 2017The Government of India has taken steps to implement the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA), coordinating with the Governments of Bangladesh and Nepal through the Ministry of External Affairs to enforce the transport agreement between and among themselves, reported Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Road Transport, Highways, and Shipping Minister, India. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Motor Vehicles Agreement, Transport |
 October 2017Mr. Abul Maal A. Muhith, Finance Minister, Bangladesh, and Mr. Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister, India, signed the Third Line of Credit (LoC) from India to Bangladesh worth $4.5 billion, to be used for implementation of projects in connectivity. Mr. Jaitley lauded the outstanding relations between the two neighbors after a meeting with Mr. Muhith. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Connectivity, Energy, Rail, Shipping, Road, Ports |
 October 2017Ms. Sumitra Mahajan, Speaker, Lok Sabha, India, said South Asian countries need to present a collective front to help the world achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Speaking at the Conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians, Ms. Majahan stressed the importance of interaction among the parliaments of SAARC countries and said that national parliaments should focus on the SDGs. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, SAARC, Sri Lanka, Sustainable Development Goals |
 October 2017The Bangladesh-India Business Meeting emphasized the immense prospects for bilateral investment and growth between Bangladesh and India. Mr. Tofail Ahmed, Commerce Minister, Bangladesh, urged India to take steps to reduce the trade deficit through removal of non-tariff and para-tariff barriers, improvement in facilities, mutual recognition of certificates and standards, and better connectivity. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Bilateral Trade |
 September 2017The 13th Joint Steering Committee Meeting between Bangladesh and India, held on 27-28 September 2017 in New Delhi, India, reviewed Bangladesh-India power sector cooperation, and explored new areas and opportunities, including the possible 840 megawatt (MW) additional electricity import from India to Bangladesh, and planned Bangladesh hydropower imports from Nepal and Bhutan. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Hydropower, Energy, Nepal, Bhutan |
 August 2017This commentary by Ms. Ferdaus Ara, Chief Executive Officer, Business Initiative Leading Development, examines the effect of non-tariff barriers to trade on Bangladesh-India exports by discussing the restriction on imports of tomato from Bangladesh. While exporting tomato from Bangladesh would benefit Indian consumers, policies in India, including the Plant Quarantine Order on Regulations of Import 2003, need to be amended. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Tariffs, Trade |
 August 2017Bangladesh plans to export 102.5 gigabit per second of bandwidth to its neighbors, Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Negotiations are ongoing to enable 2.5 Gb per second of bandwidth export to Bhutan through India’s Power Grid Corporation of India Limited's fiber optic cable. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, ICT, Trade |
 August 2017The 18th session of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Senior Officials' Meeting and the 15th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting stressed the importance of cooperation in energy, technology, trade, and transport, through a revitalized, more integrated, and stronger BIMSTEC process. The Joint Statement underscored the need to finalize the BIMSTEC Free Trade Area Agreement. Read More Tags: BIMSTEC, Nepal, Bangladesh, Regional Cooperation, Energy, Technology, Trade, Transport, Free Trade Agreement |
 August 2017The Government of Bangladesh will develop four land ports as part of its initiatives to increase trade and commerce with India. Around $85.2 million was approved by Bangladesh's Executive National Economic Council to improve the Sheola, Bhomra, and Ramgarh land ports. Another project will be undertaken to modernize security at Benapole land port. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Ports, SASEC, Trade |
 August 2017This commentary on the interim report for the Southwest Bangladesh Economic Corridor by Mr. M. Rokonuzzaman Ph.D, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North South University, Bangladesh, highlights the need for Bangladesh to boost its labor advantage with high-tech innovation to create high-paying jobs for millions of university graduates, ultimately driving the country toward its goal of achieving high-income status by 2041. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Economic Corridor Development |
 July 2017Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are working to increase their trade volume and diversify their products to promote more mutually-beneficial trade. This commentary by Mr. Amila Muthukutti, Sri Lankan economist and business writer, discusses market opportunities in Bangladesh for Sri Lankan investors, and highlights how a Free Trade Agreement will pave the way for strong trade relations. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Free Trade Agreement, Bilateral Trade |
 July 2017Mr. Younus Dagha, Federal Secretary of Commerce, Pakistan, has urged the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member countries to focus on removing non-tariff barriers to strengthen trade in the region. The region holds immense trade and investment potential, being home to 21% of the world's population. Read More Tags: SAARC CCI, Investments, Trade, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India |
 July 2017Mr. Harsh Vardan Shringla, India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, urged the business community to increase the volume of India-Bangladesh cross-border trade, noting how standards certification will boost trade for Bangladesh products. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Standards Harmonization, Trade |
 July 2017The Government of Bangladesh and India's GMR Upper Karnali Hydropower Ltd. are now preparing to sign a power purchase agreement. GMR will be exporting 300 to 500 megawatts (MW) of energy generated by the Upper Karnali Hydroelectric Project in Nepal via India. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Energy |
 July 2017This commentary by Ms. Ferdaus Ara Begum, Chief Executive Officer, Business Initiative Leading Development, highlights the need to improve standards regulation to increase Bangladesh's competitiveness in the export-based manufacturing industry. Recommendations include raising capacity of the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute to meet global standards in food safety, and involving the private sector in standard setting consultations. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Standards Harmonization, Trade Facilitation, Sanitary and Phytosanitary, Technical Barriers to Trade, SARSO |
 June 2017 |
 June 2017A forum in Kathmandu, Nepal explored actions that will allow landlocked countries to take advantage of being "land-linked". Mr. Bipul Chatterjee, Executive Director, CUTS International, underscored the importance of cooperation among the four countries to be able to move forward. Read More Tags: Nepal, Regional Cooperation, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Infrastructure |
 June 2017Mr. Prabir De, Professor at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries, discusses how the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) subregional grouping’s focus to bridge connectivity gaps is crucial to reducing poverty in the region. He highlights the pressing need to begin implementing comprehensive trade facilitation and connectivity measures in the BBIN subregion, and remarks how success of the BBIN initiative is important to move broader regional integration initiative Read More Tags: Connectivity, BBIN, Trade Facilitation, Transport, Energy, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 June 2017The International Trade Centre's Trade Map reports an increase in intraregional trade in the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) subregion in 2016, from $21.65 billion in 2015 to $23.52 billion. The ratio of BBIN intraregional trade to world trade went up from 2.98% in 2015 to 3.34% in 2016. Read More Tags: BBIN, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Transport, Energy, Trade |
 June 2017The Asia Foundation, in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry, is preparing a study on energy trade in the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal subregion, examining how market forces, networks, and stakeholders interact. In this commentary, Mr. Aditya Valiathan Pillai, program officer of the Asia Foundation in India, discusses the creation of an energy market in South Asia and the growing importance of regional electricity trade in helping mitigate carbon emissions. Read More Tags: South Asia, BBIN, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Energy, Hydropower |
 June 2017The Nepal-Bangladesh Youth Conference 2017 was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, to discuss possible ways to increase bilateral trade between Nepal and Bangladesh. The environment and the economic and business sectors were among the topics tackled at the conference. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, BBIN, Regional Cooperation, Trade Facilitation |
 May 2017The Government of India plans to begin construction of the highway connecting Meghalaya to Myanmar in June 2017, according to the Ministry of Road Transport, Highways, and Shipping, India. India also plans to boost waterway transit for more cost-effective transport of goods, and is considering waterway connectivity between Myanmar and Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Transport, India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia |
 May 2017India's Ministry of Power is preparing a set of guidelines for cross-border trade of electricity, with draft regulations from the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission. This will regulate cross-border energy trade between India and Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Nepal, by creating a uniform framework. Read More Tags: India, Energy, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal |
 May 2017Mr. Harsh Vardan Shringla, India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh reiterated India's commitment to remove non-tariff barriers (NTBs) through the standard-setting bodies of India and Bangladesh. The Bureau of Indian Standards and the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution have begun cooperating on certification of goods, to resolve NTB-related export restrictions. Read More Tags: Regional Cooperation, India, Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, Standards Harmonization |
 May 2017Mr. Abdul Matlub Ahmad, former President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, expressed confidence in the business relationship between Bangladesh and India, saying it is better right now than any time in the past. He encouraged the trade and business community to utilize the friendship between the two countries to promote development. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Private Sector, Trade Facilitation, Exports |
 May 2017A delegation of the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) met with Mr. Shajahan Khan, Shipping Minister, Bangladesh, to discuss trade bottlenecks in Bangladesh-India land ports. Infrastructural and administrative bottlenecks in land and sea ports of Bangladesh and India slows down the trade process. Long delays for trucks to pass through Customs, for example, results in shortages of warehouses and trucks, and skyrocketing prices in truck rentals. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, Transport |
 May 2017Finance ministers and senior officials of member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka met on 5 May at Yokohama, Japan, at the sidelines of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) 50th Annual General Meeting. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Central Asia, Climate Change, Energy, India, Maldives, Nepal, Policy, Regional Cooperation, SAARC, SASEC, Sri Lanka, Trade, Transport |
 April 2017India's Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the ratification of the MOU for the Establishment of the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection. The MOU is expected to be signed at the next BIMSTEC Energy Minsters' Meeting and provides a broad framework for energy trade among BIMSTEC member countries. Read More Tags: BIMSTEC, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Connectivity, Energy, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand |
 April 2017The BIMSTEC region hosts 21% of the world’s population and holds great potential for trade. Experts at the Conference on Facilitating Connectivity in Bay of Bengal Region held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, stressed the importance of regional connectivity for BIMSTEC to succeed and to facilitate economic growth among BIMSTEC member countries. Read More Tags: BIMSTEC, ASEAN, SAARC, Regional Cooperation, Cooperation, Bangladesh |
 April 2017Bangladesh has the potential to become a transport hub for India, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Myamar, according to Mr. AMA Muhith, Finance Minister, Bangladesh. Turning Bangladesh into a regional and transshipment hub would enhance economic cooperation and result in collective economic growth for the countries, Mr. Muhith said at the SASEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, India. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Economic Corridor Development, Energy, ICT, India, Nepal, Maldives, Myanmar, SASEC, South Asia, Sri Lanka, Trade Facilitation, Transport, Regional Cooperation |
 April 2017India’s Act East Policy will help improve connectivity among countries in Southeast and East Asia, said Mr. Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister, India. He noted projects to connect trade routes to India’s neighbors and explained how regional power trade would help SASEC member countries achieve energy security. Read More Tags: India, Act East Policy, Bangladesh |
 March 2017The Commerce Secretaries of the Government of Bhutan and the Government of Bangladesh met on 23-24 March 2017 in Thimphu, Bhutan, to discuss the promotion of trade and commerce. The Secretaries agreed to negotiate an inland water transit protocol, and initiate a memorandum of understanding for mutual recognition of standards and classifications. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Standards Harmonization, Trade, Transport |
 March 2017SASEC is now on Facebook, connecting followers to the most up-to-date news on regional cooperation in South Asia, SASEC events, project information, and publications that are all featured daily on www.sasec.asia. To follow SASEC on Facebook, simply click here; then click “Like” at the top of the Facebook page. Read More Tags: SASEC, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Regional Cooperation, Trade, Economic cooperation |
 March 2017Low exports and rising imports are causing exponential growth in Nepal's trade deficit, according to Nepal’s Minister of Commerce, and he urged ministries, agencies, and the private sector to collaborate to bridge Nepal's widening export gap. The Ministry of Commerce has prioritized initiatives to promote Nepal's productive capacity. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Trade |
 March 2017The Eighth BIMSTEC Roundtable Meeting tackled “Rewriting the Rulebook of Regional Connectivity,” emphasizing the need to resolve border-related trade barriers through coordination of government policies across Asia, including Customs procedures and clearance of goods, to unlock the vibrancy of the Asian Highway and reduce the cost of doing business. Read More Tags: BIMSTEC, Trade, Customs, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, ICT, Nepal, Transport, Ease of Doing Business |
 March 2017Three common standards—Biscuits Specification, Refined Sugar Specification, and Code of Hygienic Practice for Dairy Industry—for the SAARC region were approved at the South Asian Regional Standards Organization's (SARSO) Fifth Governing Body Meeting. These common standards will help reduce SAARC intra-regional trade costs. According to SARSO Director General, Dr. Syed Humayun Kabir, member countries' national standardization bodies will be in charge of their implementation. Read More Tags: SAARC, SARSO, Bangladesh, Standards Harmonization |
 March 2017India's Ministry of Shipping will set up an international river port in Sonamura, connecting Gomati River in Tripura, in India's northeast, with Meghna river in Bangladesh. India’s Inland Waterways Authority approved the proposal to enable small ferries and boats to transport goods through river transit, according to Minister of State for Industries and Commerce. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Transport |
 February 2017Good connectivity reduces the cost of doing business and increases the competitive strengths of trading partners. In this commentary, Dr. Mustafizur Rahman, Executive Director, Centre for Policy Dialogue, highlights how a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement and an effective Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicle Agreement would promote South Asian integration and step up Asia-wide cooperation. Read More Tags: BBIN, Motor Vehicles Agreement, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Transport, Economic corridor |
 February 2017The World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement came into force after Rwanda, Oman, Chad, and Jordan submitted their instruments of acceptance to WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo. The submissions bring the total number of ratifications over the 110 required for activation. Members’ trade costs are forecast to lower by 14.3%, with developing countries having the most to gain. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, LDC, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Trade Facilitation Agreement, WTO |
 February 2017The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is ready to assist Bangladesh in its efforts to improve transport and energy connectivity. Mr. Wencai Zhang, Vice President, ADB, affirmed that ADB will continue to support Bangladesh in its goal of becoming a developed country by 2041, as well as in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and minimizing climate change impact. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Bhutan, BBIN, Cooperation, Development, Motor Vehicles Agreement, Energy, Investment, Nepal |
 February 2017The Ganges flows through the middle of Bihar, India, physically dividing it into north and south. Enhanced connectivity can improve lives and livelihoods, especially if the infrastructure is climate-sensitive. Ms. Saleha Waseem, Operations Communications Specialist at the Asian Development Bank’s South Asia Regional Department, shows how improving transport links would make a huge difference to millions of people. Read More Tags: ADB, Agriculture, Bangladesh, Connectivity, Development, Economic corridor, Regional Cooperation, India, Nepal, Road, Services, Transport |
 February 2017Hydropower cooperation among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal could be a viable option for addressing growing power needs in the region, said Mr. Ainun Nishat, Professor Emeritus, Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research, Brac University, Bangladesh. Nepal’s hydropower potential stands at 83,000 megawatts (MW), while Bhutan’s is at 40,000 MW and northeast India’s at 60,000 MW. Read More Tags: Hydropower, Energy, Renewable Energy, Sustainability, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 February 2017Mr. Wencai Zhang, Asian Development Bank Vice President, discusses in this commentary how Asia’s growth poles will drive the global economy in the coming years, if South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia can dynamically integrate their economies. He emphasized the urgent need to synch strengths across sub-regions—by removing non-tariff barriers, strengthening connectivity, and building economic corridors—to help erase poverty in the region. Read More Tags: ADB, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Connectivity, Economic Corridor Development |
 January 2017Limited cooperation and economic integration in South Asia continue to hinder its growth potential, despite being one of the fastest-growing regions in the world. In this commentary, Dr. Shamsul Alam, Member (Senior Secretary), General Economics Division, Planning Commission, Government of Bangladesh, argues for the need to think of pragmatic approaches and re-imagine regional cooperation in South Asia. Read More Tags: ASEAN, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Connectivity, India, European Union, Infrastructure |
 January 2017A railway network linking India and its neighboring countries, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Nepal, is being considered by the Government of India, according to India Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. Developing railway connectivity will increase employment, interaction, trade, and tourism. Read More Tags: India, Rail, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Trade, Trade Facilitation, Transport, Tourism, Employment |
 January 2017The interactive session “Harnessing Regional Cooperation in South Asia” held at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum discussed how regional economic cooperation is helping accelerate growth and development. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasized continuous initiatives, in economic cooperation in South Asia, including SAFTA and SASEC. India Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman lauded initiatives to boost connectivity. Read More Tags: South Asia, Regional Cooperation, Trade Facilitation, Transport, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 January 2017India is set to join the Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR), or International Road Transport Convention in its bid to establish seamless trade connectivity with Southeast Asia and Eurasian countries. Through the TIR Convention, India could access Eurasia via the International North-South Transport Corridor. TIR would also give India an advantage in trade with fellow signatories of the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Connectivity, Customs, Economic corridor, Harmonization, Motor Vehicles Agreement, Road, Roads, Trade Facilitation, Trade, Transport, BBIN |
 January 2017Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, South Korea, and Sri Lanka, member countries of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA), moved to expand trade and boost growth in the region by agreeing to increase the number of products under preferential tariff treatment to 10,677 items from 4,270 at the 4th session of the APTA Ministerial Council. Read More Tags: Asia-Pacific, Bangladesh, Development, Regional Cooperation, Services, Sri Lanka, Sustainability, Tariffs, Trade, Trade Facilitation, UNESCAP, India |
 January 2017India is set to undertake a number of projects in the city of Khulna, Bangladesh, including a planned Mongla Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for Indian companies. India is also offering to undertake joint projects with Bangladesh to modernize the Mongla sea port and to construct the Khan Jahan Ali Airport. Trade between India and Bangladesh has seen a substantial increase in the last few years. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Economic zone |
 January 2017The new Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Mr. Riaz Hamidullah called on Sri Lanka Finance Minister, Mr. Ravi Karunanayake to discuss a potential Bangladesh-Sri Lanka free trade agreement. The Meeting emphasized benefits to be gained by both countries from this type of agreement. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Trade, Free Trade Agreement |
 December 2016Bangladesh has adopted the mantra "Digital Bangladesh" in its push to reduce trade costs, by implementing paperless trade through an electronic system. The country has already launched an online trade portal; the Central Bank is successfully conducting electronic transactions; and the National Board of Revenue has also enhanced its paperless capacity. Asjadul Kibria, Bangladeshi economic journalist, provides the following commentary. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Customs, Single Window, Trade, Trade Facilitation, Trade Facilitation Agreement, WTO |
 December 2016A Regional Workshop on the SASEC Research and Training Network was held to assess the results and achievements of the SASEC Information Highway Project. The Meeting reviewed project implementation, discussed knowledge products, and summarized project benefits to rural communities. It also proposed ways to facilitate sustainable ICT cooperation among the four countries. Read More Tags: ICT, SASEC, ADB, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 December 2016Bangladesh Railway has set out a 20-year plan in a bid to increase the transport body’s market share. The plan includes 235 railway projects at a cost of $30 billion. The country currently has 2,877 kilometers of railroads and has made plans to add another 375 kilometers. ADB will be funding the 129-kilometer Dohazari-Gundum railway line at a cost of $1.5 billion. Such projects are expected to boost economic growth in Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Rail, Transport, Bangladesh, ADB |
 December 2016The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence under the Central Board of Excise and Customs organized the 4th Regional Customs Enforcement Meeting in New Delhi, India, as part of its Founding Day celebrations. The Heads of Customs Enforcement from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Mauritius and Maldives were invited to participate in the said Meeting, which discussed issues of mutual concern, noted the need to share information and activate channels of coordination. Read More Tags: Customs, Trade Facilitation, South Asia, Regional Cooperation, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Trade |
 December 2016The SASEC project portfolio has surpassed the $9 billion mark with the December 2016 approval of Nepal’s SASEC Roads Improvement Project, worth $256.5 million. There are now 44 SASEC investment projects worth a cumulative $9.13 billion. During 2016, seven projects have been approved for a total of $2.37 billion. Read More Tags: SASEC, Trade Facilitation, Energy, Transport, Roads, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, ICT, Rail, Economic corridor, Connectivity |
 November 2016Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.H. Mahmood Ali highlighted the potential joint development of hydropower projects between Bangladesh and Bhutan during discussions with Bhutan Ambassador to Bangladesh Sonam Tobden Rabgye. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Hydropower, Energy, BBIN |
 November 2016Government officials of Bangladesh and Nepal will conduct a joint survey on a potential road route under the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA), starting from5 December 2016. It will check road conditions, length of travel, and necessary infrastructure to ensure seamless movement of vehicles. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, BBIN, Trade Facilitation, Transport |
 November 2016Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have agreed to sign a free trade agreement to enhance bilateral trade between the two countries. This decision came out of of the Fifth Joint Economic Cooperation Session between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and reflects an eagerness of both countries to improve trade volumes. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Trade, Free Trade Agreement, Exports, Imports |
 November 2016In a meeting with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Mr. Kazi M. Azul Islam, Chairman, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, promised CII delegates that Bangladesh will work toward improving the country’s ‘Ease of Doing Business’ to encourage more investors from India. Bangladesh has set a five-year target to improve its ease of doing business. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Ease of Doing Business, Investment, Energy, Infrastructure, Bilateral Trade |
 November 2016EPing, an online alert system for updates on the latest information on regulatory requirements for international trade, was launched by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the World Trade Organization, and the International Trade Centre. The system enables access to WTO member notifications on TBT and SPS measures, and facilitates dialogue among the public and private sector in the early stages of potential trade issues. Read More Tags: Trade Facilitation, Technical Barriers to Trade, Sanitary and Phytosanitary, Trade, WTO, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka |
 November 2016The Governments of Bangladesh and India are preparing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand their agreement on Bangladesh-India border ‘haats’ (markets). The MOU extends the provision to operate border haats to five years, increases the number of vendors allowed, and sets a $200 purchase limit per person. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade, Border Haat |
 October 2016South Asian countries should engage more in regional energy trade and joint management of resources. By doing so, they could save over $9 billion annually and reduce carbon emissions by 8%. And since energy drives development, energy cooperation and trade is expected to translate to improved standards of living and poverty reduction. Read More Tags: Energy, Hydropower, South Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka |
 October 2016The Governments of India and Bangladesh have begun the process of acquiring land in Bangladesh to build the new India-Bangladesh railway project. The 15 kilometer (km) railway will connect Agartala (India) to Akhaura (Bangladesh), and reduce the 1,613-km mountainous distance between Agartala and Kolkata to 514 km. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Transport, Rail |
 October 2016Bangladesh and Nepal officials have emphasized the need to both hasten and deepen integration among South Asian countries through the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the region must work to finalize BIMSTEC Free Trade Area Framework Agreement deals to boost trade in the region. Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal stated that BIMSTEC can be a dynamic engine for growth and development. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, BIMSTEC, Regional Cooperation, Free Trade Agreement |
 October 2016The Governments of Bangladesh and Nepal have agreed to undertake joint investments in hydropower plants in Nepal, to generate electricity, including energy exports to Bangladesh. The two countries signed a deal to set up two hydropower plants capable of generating 1,500 megawatts. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Energy, Nepal |
 October 2016In recent years, countries in South Asia have shown increasing commitment to deepening regional cooperation through bilateral agreements and regional initiatives, including the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement. This commentary by Ms. Nahela Nowshin of the Centre for Policy Dialogue discusses the importance of regional initiatives in South Asia, as well as the need to promote dialogue on matters of regional cooperation and connectivity. Read More Tags: Trade Facilitation, Transport, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 October 2016A new Customs inspection and verification procedure is changing how trade is conducted among South Asian countries. Through the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement, cargo and passenger vehicles may now pass through the four countries more smoothly. The simplified process greatly benefits apparel-centric economies, making South Asia more competitive for both global and domestic brands. Read More Tags: BBIN, Customs, Trade Facilitation, Garments, Imports, Motor Vehicles Agreement, Bangladesh, India, Nepal |
 October 2016The Asian Development Bank is helping countries in the SASEC subregion harmonize two technical non-tariff measures, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), to enhance intraregional trade. Under this initiative, a national diagnostic study on SPS and TBT will be conducted in the six SASEC member countries, to be led by core committees formed by the six governments, in consultation with trade experts. Read More Tags: Trade Facilitation, Non-tariff Measures, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal |
 September 2016The Asian Development Bank has approved a multitranche loan of $1.5 billion to the Government of Bangladesh for construction of a key section of the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar railway line—the largest ever investment in railways by ADB. The new line will improve Bangladesh’s access to Myanmar and beyond, facilitate trade, and boost tourism in southeastern Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Myanmar, Rail, Connectivity, Transport, Trade, Tourism |
 September 2016The six member countries of the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Program have launched the SASEC Operational Plan for 2016-2025. The plan expands the program’s focus beyond intraregional cooperation to deepening linkages with Southeast and East Asia, and widens the scope of transport, trade facilitation, and energy cooperation to include economic corridor development as a priority initiative. The plan also lists more than 200 potential regional projects for South Asia. Read More Tags: ADB, SASEC, Economic corridor, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka |
 September 2016The 13th SAARC trade fair was held in Thimphu, Bhutan, to promote intra-regional trade and investment among SAARC countries. In his opening address, Mr. Lekey Dorji, Bhutan Economic Affairs Minister, underscored the importance of fostering business links among companies in the region to accelerate economic growth and improve people's well-being. Read More Tags: SAARC, Trade, South Asia, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka |
 September 2016The Government of Bangladesh plans to form a hydropower generation company to import hydropower from countries including Bhutan and Nepal. The initiative will be set up under Bangladesh's Power Division, Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Hydropower, Bhutan |
 September 2016A seminar organized by CUTS International has recommended promotion of regional value chains in agriculture between India and Bangladesh. A recent CUTS International study revealed huge opportunities for trade in agricultural produce: for example, in Tripura, India, produce sourced from Indian states can be easily imported from nearby areas of Bangladesh at a much faster time and for less cost. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Trade |
 September 2016The Government of Bangladesh will establish a National Single Window to simplify cross-border trade procedures and improve Bangladesh's ease of doing business. The System will facilitate import, export, and transit transactions using an electronic portal that links all relevant agencies for cross-border trade. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade, Trade Facilitation |
 September 2016Customs-free borders for Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal will save time and money for importers and exporters and thereby increase the ease of doing business, according to an executive of the Federation of Indian Exporters Organisation (FIEO). Because goods no longer have to be unloaded at the border, trucks can easily cross borders, reducing time and logistics costs for both buyer and seller. Read More Tags: BBIN, Customs, Trade, Motor Vehicles Agreement, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India |
 September 2016Bangladesh is set to sign a free trade agreement and a coastal shipping deal with Sri Lanka to boost trade and investments between the two countries. A Joint Study Group will be formed to accelerate development of the coastal shipping agreement, for which standard operating procedures are being drafted. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Trade, Free Trade Agreement |
September 2016 A new chapter in trade relations and people-to-people contact between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal (BBIN) began on 5 September 2016, as a Bangladeshi cargo truck rolled into the Customs Inland Container Depot, Patparganj, Delhi. Though the vehicle entered India through Petrapole Land Customs Station, Customs clearance was done at the ICD, Patparganj, as part of a trial run of the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement. Read More Tags: BBIN, Trade Facilitation, Transport, Motor Vehicles Agreement, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 September 2016Finance Ministers from the eight South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member states are pushing for the formation of a South Asian Economic Union (SAEU) to ensure larger inflow of investments, higher trade volumes, and energy generation. The ministers highlighted the need to fast-track the formation of the SAEU to help boost the inflow of investments and trade volumes. Read More Tags: SAEU, SAARC, Trade, Energy, Trade Facilitation, Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal |
 August 2016The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Finance Ministers’ Meeting focused on improving trade relations among member nations. Discussions revolved around economic issues, Customs unions, avoidance of double taxation, improving connectivity, increasing trade volume, and developing supply chain linkages. Read More Tags: SAARC, India, Trade, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Connectivity, Customs, SASEC, Trade |
 August 2016The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) undertook a 6-day visit to Bangladesh, and met with the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), to look into economic opportunities India and Bangladesh could tap. SGCCI signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with DCCI and CCCI, to explore new areas of cooperation and boost bilateral trade relations. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Private Sector, Trade |
 August 2016The Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) is set to boost infrastructure development in the BBIN subregion. Bangladesh will see significant increase in cargo movement, enabling India to access its Northeast region, and helping facilitate third-country trade of landlocked Bhutan and Nepal. However, major investments in infrastructure are needed to maximize Bangladesh’s potential to become a transport and transshipment hub. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Trade Facilitation |
 August 2016The National Trade Portal and National Single Window are important components of the World Trade Organization's Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA). This commentary by Ms. Ferdous Ara Begum, Chief Executive Officer, Business Initiative Leading Development of Bangladesh, discusses how these could improve trade, gives an update on Bangladesh's initiatives toward ratifying the WTO TFA, and recommends a region-wide Single Window for South Asia. Read More Tags: WTO, Trade Facilitation Agreement, ASEAN, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Trade Facilitation |
 August 2016Bangladesh is pushing for the development of railway corridors with India to facilitate trade and investment among BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) countries. To help boost regional trade, Bangladesh Railway is looking to revive five routes to India, and build railway links to connect with Bhutan and Nepal. Read More Tags: Transport, Rail, Bangladesh, India, BBIN |
 August 2016Preparations to sign a power trade agreement between the Governments of Nepal and Bangladesh are underway, with the Energy Ministry of Nepal finalizing a draft memorandum of understanding on Nepal-Bangladesh energy cooperation. The draft outlines protocols for conducting energy trade between the two countries, in line with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Energy, SAARC |
 August 2016The Ministry of Shipping, Government of Bangladesh, has ordered upgrading of the Banglabandha Land Port to cater to rising trade with Nepal. This includes improving and building new loading and unloading sheds, and other needed infrastructure, such as warehouses, vehicle parking, and the road leading to the port. Read More Tags: Shipping, Bangladesh, Nepal, Transport, BBIN |
 August 2016Development of infrastructure at Sheola, Thegamukh, and Bhomra land ports under the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) initiative for regional connectivity will increase economic activity, according to a feasibility study report jointly undertaken by India and the People’s Republic of China. The report was presented at a National Public Consultation Workshop in Bangladesh on 11 August 2016. Read More Tags: Ports, Bangladesh, India, Trade Facilitation, Transport |
 August 2016Absence of a harmonized system of standards among South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) members is one reason for the increase of technical barriers to trade, giving rise to non-tariff barriers that hamper SAARC intra-regional trade. A commentary by Mr. Wasi Ahmed, a former senior trade diplomat, discusses the growing recognition of importance of harmonized regional standards within SAARC. Read More Tags: SAARC, Trade, Regional Cooperation, Standards Harmonization, Bangladesh, India |
 August 2016India is upbeat on India-Bangladesh bilateral relations, particularly on connectivity and bilateral trade. Mr. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, High Commissioner of lndia to Bangladesh, emphasized at a Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry meeting, that Bangladesh is integral to India’s Act East Policy and noted the many efforts to link the two countries. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Rail, Bilateral Trade, Transport |
 August 2016Bangladesh is seeking to become a dialogue partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to deepen Bangladesh-ASEAN economic, political, and cultural connectivity. Formalization of ties will promote trade flow, investment, and cultural exchanges between South and Southeast Asia, emphasized Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, ASEAN, Trade |
 August 2016River management provides opportunities to release regenerative capacities of the people and environment of basin-wide areas. The following article suggests South Asian countries cooperate to fulfill a promise of greater sustainability. Cooperation in water resource management can serve as a catalyst for broader regional cooperation, economic integration, and development. Read More Tags: BBIN, Rivers, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Transport |
 July 2016Indian Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and Bangladeshi Railway Minister Mazibul Hoque jointly laid the foundation stone for the 15 kilometer (km) Agartala (India)-Akhaura (Bangladesh) railway project. This rail link reduces the Agartala-Kolkata distance from 1,613 km to 514 km. Read More Tags: Rail, India, Bangladesh, Transport |
 July 2016South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) investment projects increased to a cumulative $7.66 billion in the areas of transport, energy, trade facilitation, and ICT with the recent approval of India’s Bihar New Ganga Bridge Project. To date, 40 SASEC-supported projects are helping member countries strengthen regional connectivity infrastructure, promote economic growth, and foster regional cooperation. In addition, there are now 71 technical assistance projects worth $66.14 mi Read More Tags: SASEC, Energy, Trade Facilitation, Transport, South Asia, ADB, ICT, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Economic Corridor Development |
 July 2016Implementation of the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA) may start in December, according to Bangladesh Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, while speaking at a closing ceremony of a drivers' training on road safety. Read More Tags: BBIN, Trade Facilitation, Transport, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 July 2016The economic corridor development (ECD) strategy is an approach that integrates and synergizes industry, infrastructure, and urbanization through meticulous planning over a long-term horizon. An Asian Development Bank (ADB) blog post by Mr. Hoe Yun Jeong, Senior Economist (Regional Cooperation), South Asia Regional Department, published on 26 July 2016, shares how an ECD approach can be beneficial for the South Asia region. Read More Tags: Economic corridor, India, Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor, South Asia, East Coast Economic Corridor, Economic Corridor Development, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka |
 July 2016India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurated the Petrapole Integrated Checkpost (ICP). Prime Minister Modi lauded the event as an important milestone in India-Bangladesh relations, providing a boost to bilateral connectivity and trade, while Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina expressed hope that the ICP will further enhance good relations between the two countries Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Customs, Trade, Trade Facilitation |
 July 2016Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), have stepped up their support for the proposed SAARC Industrial Parks by allocating lands for the planned initiative. Designated areas include Chittagong, Bangladesh; Gujarat, India; and Faisalabad City, Pakistan. Read More Tags: SAARC, Trade, Private Sector, Bangladesh, India |
 July 2016Mr. Hun Kim, Director General, South Asia Department, ADB, describes how partnership of 6 South Asian countries through the ADB-supported South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program is helping propel economic growth in South Asia, amidst an uncertain regional and global economic climate, by working to increase trade volumes to reduce the number of impoverished people in the region. Read More Tags: Regional Cooperation, South Asia, Energy, Trade Facilitation, Transport, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka |
 July 2016Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) signed a landmark Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) meant to allow smooth passage of goods and passenger vehicles in each other’s territories. In this blog post, Sanjay Kathuria, Lead Economist and Coordinator, South Asia Regional Integration, Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice, World Bank, asks if South Asia is truly ready for such a regional agreement. Read More Tags: South Asia, Transport, Trade Facilitation, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka |
 July 2016The Governments of Bangladesh and India are working on plans to expand the regional energy market by doubling the capacities of cross-border power transmission interconnections, and setting up a third cross-border energy grid. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Energy |
 July 2016Business leaders at the recent Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) Business Forum and Expo said they want to see an industrial zone in Panchagarh, Bangladesh, as this would be close to Biratnagar in Nepal, Phuntsholing in Bhutan, and Siliguri in India. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade, Transport |
 July 2016Plans are underway to open up coastal shipping routes between Bangladesh and India to passenger and cruise vessels. According to Bangladesh Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, the two countries are in talks to sign a memorandum of understanding allowing Indian vessels through Bangladesh's waterways, to ease travel to India's northeast. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Transport, Shipping |
 July 2016BBIN Business Forum states that Customs duties and taxation must be harmonized in order to improve trade among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal. Following the successful signing of the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement (BBIN MVA), the countries must now pursue ways to make the movement of goods and people easier. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade Facilitation, Transport, Cooperation |
 June 2016The Rampura-Amulia-Demra public-private partnership (PPP) road project in Bangadesh will be developed into a four-lane 13.5-kilometer access road under a transaction advisory services agreement between the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Bangladesh Public–Private Partnership Authority. The project complements ADB’s existing support to the Bangladesh Roads and Highways Department for intercity road connectivity under the SASEC Program. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Transport, ADB |
 June 2016The interactive SASEC Corridor Map on the SASEC Program website and SASEC Mobile App is your gateway to SASEC projects. View projects by sector—energy, transport, trade facilitation, and ICT—or by corridor using the interactive map, to learn how the SASEC program is helping promote regional prosperity in South Asia. The map also includes project information and links to SASEC project pages. Read More Tags: SASEC, Economic corridor, Energy, Trade Facilitation, Transport, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives |
 June 2016Meetings between Customs officials from SASEC member countries reaps benefits for the SASEC subregion and beyond, providing a platform for officers to decide the next steps in improving cross-border coordination and cooperation to resolve bottlenecks for trade at the borders. An Asian Development Bank (ADB) blog post by Ms. Rose McKenzie, Senior Regional Cooperation Specialist, Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination, South Asia Regional Department, ADB, is shared. Read More Tags: Customs, Trade Facilitation, Regional Cooperation, ICT, BBIN, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal |
 June 2016The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has earmarked $4.10 billion for Bangladesh for the 2016-2019 period, subject to project readiness. This includes $50 million for the proposed SASEC Road Connectivity Project-II and $200 million for the Chittagong-Cox's Bazar railway project. The ADB is also allotting $300 million for power generation and $194 million for rural infrastructure maintenance. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Road, Transport |
 June 2016Launch of the Bangladesh-India transshipment facility concluded with the successful delivery of steel rods from Kolkata, India to Agartala, the capital of Tripura, through Akhaura land port in Bangladesh, onboard Bangladeshi trucks. The facility will allow India to deliver goods to the northeast region in an estimated 10-day time, and help boost trade in the region by enabling Bangladesh to transport goods to Nepal and Bhutan via India, and give India access to Myanmar via Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade Facilitation, Transport |
 June 2016Good relations, regional connectivity, and cooperation among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal (BBIN) countries boost trade and business in South Asia, said Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 18 June 2016. Read More Tags: Cooperation, Bangladesh, Trade, BBIN |
 June 2016Bangladesh has adopted a multi-dimensional plan to upgrade 1,752 kilometers of highways to four lanes. The Government of Bangladesh is already implementing the 69-kilometer Joydebpur-Chandra-Tangail-Elenga four-lane project under the SASEC Road Connectivity Project. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Road, Transport |
 June 2016The Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement is a landmark framework agreement signed by the transport ministers of the BBIN countries last June 2015 in Thimphu, Bhutan. Mr. Ronald Butiong, Director, Regional Cooperation and Operations Coordination, South Asia Regional Department, Asian Development Bank (ADB), describes how it is paving the way for a more integrated and more prosperous South Asian region in an ADB blog entry. Read More Tags: BBIN, Trade Facilitation, Transport, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 June 2016The Government of Bangladesh has completed its feasibility study and detailed design for a planned 38-km Jessore-Benapole highway upgrade. It is set to inject more than $42 million to fund the Indo-Bangladesh transport corridor improvement to facilitate trade and connectivity. The Jessore-Benapole highway is central to several regional connectivity initiatives, including the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicle Agreement and SAARC highway corridors. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Road, Transport |
 June 2016The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Development Fund (SDF) and SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry have pledged to collaborate and co-finance projects under the SDF's social, economic and infrastructure windows to promote regional connectivity across the SAARC region. Read More Tags: SAARC CCI, SAARC, Regional Cooperation, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Trade, Transport |
 June 2016Indian entrepreneurs have invested INR 3,084.43 crore ($458.14 million) in Bangladesh, a move that has created 63,277 jobs, says Mr. Amir Hossain Amu, Ministry of Industries, Bangladesh. He also said Bangladesh is looking forward to being India’s partner in tech industries. Read More Tags: SAFTA, India, Bangladesh, Trade |
 June 2016The 15-kilometer broad gauge rail service from Agartala, India to Akhaura, Bangladesh is set to be inaugurated in June 2016. Funded by the Government of India, the railway project will reduce the 1,650-km distance between Agartala and Kolkata to 550 km and is foreseen to boost bilateral trade and business between the two neighboring countries. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Rail, Bilateral Trade, Transport |
 May 2016A meeting of the Bangladesh Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has approved in principle the draft Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution Law 2016. The updated law includes an adjusted definition of "standards" from "foreign standards" to "international standards." Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Standards Harmonization, Technical Barriers to Trade |
 May 2016Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena agreed to further enhance bilateral trade relations at a meeting held on the sidelines of the G7 Outreach Summit in Japan. President Sirisena also accepted an invitation extended by Prime Minister Hasina to visit Bangladesh in December this year. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Trade |
 May 2016Bangladesh is reviewing targets for its renewable energy program to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. Mr. Nasrul Hamid, State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh said the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority aims to increase share of energy coming from renewable resources. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Energy, Renewable Energy |
 May 2016A proposed SASEC road upgrade project in Bangladesh will improve the country’s transport system and enhance trade and investment in the region, according to Mr. Obaidul Quader of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges Read More Tags: SASEC, Transport, Bangladesh |
 May 2016The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) explored the possibility of growing its trade volume from Bhutan through investments in the country's fruit and vegetable processing industries and buying spices from Bhutan. FBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmad was in the country to explore new areas of trade and investments between the two countries. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Trade, Private Sector |
 May 2016Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali paid a courtesy call on the King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. The King lauded Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's initiatives to boost Bangladesh-Bhutan bilateral relations, and emphasized the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) cooperation as a platform to achieve regional prosperity. Read More Tags: Bhutan, Bangladesh, BBIN, India, Nepal, Transport, Regional Cooperation |
 May 2016Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and Bhutan Foreign Minister Damcho Dorji discussed hydropower in a meeting in Thimphu, Bhutan: Bangladesh plans to invest in the 1,125 megawatt Dorjilung hydropower project. Trilateral cooperation among Bangladesh, Bhutan, and India would enable Bangladesh's investment in Bhutan's hydropower sector. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Energy, Hydropower |
 May 2016A bilateral meeting led by Bangladesh Senior Commerce Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon and Nepal Commerce Secretary Naindra Prasad Upadhyay initiated a number of measures to expand trade volume between the two countries, including removal of technical barriers to trade, harmonization of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and preferential market access for 158 products. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Trade, Standards Harmonization, Technical Barriers to Trade |
 May 2016A Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) economic zone may be declared in an upcoming BBIN seminar and business expo to be held in Siliguri, India, according to Mr. Abdul Matlub Ahmad, President, Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI). Mr. Ahmad was in Thimphu, Bhutan to discuss the upcoming BBIN seminar, as well as opportunities for trade and investment between Bangladesh and Bhutan. Read More Tags: Economic zone, BBIN, Trade, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 April 2016A World Customs Organization (WCO) Subregional Workshop on Transit Corridors in South Asia considered improvement of regional transit regimes in the region. Progress of the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement, as well as national experiences of Japan, Switzerland and Malawi in implementing efficient transit regimes, was discussed. Read More Tags: Trade Facilitation, Transport, BBIN, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 April 2016The Economic Cooperation Dialogue on Regional Connectivity and Border Special Development Zones in Eastern South Asia highlighted the importance of transport corridors to promote trade and economic cooperation in the region. Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Head, UNESCAP Subregional Office for South and South-West Asia, shared how developing transport corridors can turn constraints faced by the region's landlocked countries into opportunities. Read More Tags: Trade, Transport, South Asia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 April 2016A railway agreement in the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) subregion is being proposed, in line with expansion of railway links boosting connectivity between India's Northeast and its BBIN neighbors. According to Mr. Mukul Kumar, Director (Transport), Railway Board, Ministry of Railways, Government of India, this initiative will facilitate cross-border transport of goods and people, and enable efficient multimodal transport system to integrate and sustain the region's economic growth. Read More Tags: BBIN, Rail, Transport, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 April 2016The Intergovernmental Agreement on Dry Ports, developed with support of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, entered into force on 23 April 2016, after 8 of the 17 signatory countries, including Bangladesh and India, deposited approvals of Agreement. The Agreement aims to promote international recognition of dry ports, facilitating investment in dry port infrastructure and enhancing their operational efficiency. Read More Tags: Ports, Trade Facilitation, Trade, LLDC, Bangladesh, India |
 April 2016Bangladesh plans to import 2,000 megawatts of electricity from India in the coming years, according to Bangladesh State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid in his address at the 'Power Market Development in India: Key Lessons Learnt' workshop. He highlighted the country's ongoing regional power trade with India and plans for its expansion, and urged the Government of India to step forward in the planned hydropower project with Bhutan. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Energy |
 April 2016The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) of Bangladesh approved an updated budget of around $2.3 billion for the 129.6 kilometer Dohazari-Ramu-Cox's Bazar dual gauge railway project. The proposed railway track will be linked to the Trans-Asian Railway, connecting Bangladesh to India and Myanmar. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Rail, Transport |
 April 2016Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called on neighboring countries to cooperate in the Bangladesh Government's efforts to become a developed nation. In a meeting with India's Minister of State on Independent Charge for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan, Prime Minister Hasina emphasized Bangladesh's focus on promoting connectivity. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Regional Cooperation, Special Economic Zone, BBIN |
 April 2016Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh discussed increasing volumes of imports from Bangladesh to the Indian state of Manipur during a visit by the Bangladesh Commerce Minister. Chief Minister Singh affirmed the huge demand for Bangladeshi products, and recommended enhanced private sector cooperation between the two countries. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade |
 April 2016Dr. Selim Reihan notes that drivers of political economy can impact the region's integration agenda. In this essay, Dr. Raihan highlights the importance of exploring the political economy of regional integration to generate a better assessment of the factors driving and constraining regional integration, and create broader awareness among stakeholders to stimulate a more realistic and effective regional policy design and processes. Read More Tags: Economic corridor, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka, SAARC, SAFTA, Services, South Asia, Infrastructure, Trade Facilitation, Transport |
 April 2016Dr. Pritam Banerjee, Senior Director, Corporate Public Policy (South Asia), Deutsche Post DHL, reported that the first trial run of cargo vehicles on the Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala route under the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) sub-regional framework, enabled a better understanding of future needs and solutions for safe and efficient movement of cargo across BBIN borders. Read More Tags: Private Sector, BBIN, Trade Facilitation, Transport, India, Bangladesh |
 April 2016A Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) dialogue on promoting trade in the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) subregion has discussed intraregional trade in South Asia, which remains under 5% despite implementation of the South Asia Free Trade Agreement. According to MCCI, non-tariff measures manifested as non-tariff barriers and para-tariff barriers lead to high transaction costs in cross-border trade, keeping trade volume low. Read More Tags: Trade, BBIN, SAFTA, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 April 2016The Government of Bangladesh is preparing to ratify the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which will enable efficient and speedy flow of goods across borders and make doing business less costly. Bangladesh aims to ratify the TFA soon, to allow the country to enjoy trade benefits available to least developed countries. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, LDC |
 March 2016Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the inauguration of an additional 100 megawatt electricity supply from India's Tripura state to Bangladesh's Comilla state, and the leasing of 10 GBPS of internet bandwidth from Bangladesh to India's Agartala state on 23 March 2016. Both Prime Ministers lauded Bangladesh-India cooperation. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, ICT, Energy, BBIN |
 March 2016Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid, in a meeting with outgoing Bhutan Ambassador to Bangladesh Pema Choden, highlighted how implementation of the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA) will expand the scope of trade and investment in the subregion. They also discussed how bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Bhutan could be enhanced. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, BBIN, Transport, Motor Vehicles Agreement |
 March 2016Direct cargo shipments between Bangladesh-India were launched on 15 March 2016, with the first vessel sailing from Chittagong Port, Bangladesh to Krishnapatnam Port, India on 17 March 2016, carrying cotton and textiles. The service reduces transport time significantly—from 25 to 4 days to carry goods from Bangladesh to India, with goods no longer having to pass through Colombo, Sri Lanka, or Singapore. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade, Ports, Trade Facilitation |
 March 2016Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed satisfaction over the growing engagement between Bangladesh and Bhutan. The Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal initiative, according to the Prime Minister, further widens the scope of cooperation between the two countries. The Queen of Bhutan likewise expressed the hope that bilateral relations between the two countries will continue to strengthen. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, BBIN, Regional Cooperation |
 March 2016Mr. Nasrul Hamid, Bangladesh State Minister for Power and Energy, discussed the possibility of enhancing the scope of Bangladesh-India cross-border energy transmission to include Bhutan in a meeting with Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla. Bangladesh is mulling a $1 billion investment in Bhutan's hydropower industry, and is reviewing a draft MoU for possible electricity imports from Bhutan. Read More Tags: Energy, Hydropower, Bangladesh |
 March 2016The Government of Bangladesh has launched the Bangladesh Trade Portal, a one-stop shop for information on conducting trade with Bangladesh. The website offers useful information on exporting goods from, and importing commercial goods into Bangladesh, to promote the country's trade sector. Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said the portal marks a milestone for business and traders. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade, Trade Facilitation, ICT |
 March 2016Major upgrades to modernize the Tangail-Rangpur Highway—which is part of the 1,741 kilometers (km) linking Bangladesh with the Asian Highway, and the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal road network—are being proposed by Bangladesh Road and Highways Department, to include road widening and construction of bridges, flyovers, and culverts. The plan is currently being reviewed by Bangladesh Planning Ministry. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Transport, Economic corridor |
 March 2016The need to ramp up cooperation in energy between Bangladesh and Nepal was discussed by Bangladesh Minister for Information Hasanul Haq Inu at an interaction organized by the Nepal Reporters’ Club. According to the Minister, Bangladesh has already forwarded a proposal for transmission of energy from Nepal. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Energy, Nepal |
 February 2016Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally opened Bangladesh Railway’s 64-kilometer Tongi-Bhairab double-rail track on the Dhaka-Chittagong route, which is expected to speed up rail travel between Dhaka and Chittagong by at least an hour and a half. The Asian Development Bank funded the $162.5 million project through the SASEC program. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Rail, Transport |
 February 2016Regional economic connectivity initiatives, including the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicle Agreement, can change the business landscape of Bangladesh, said Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haque at a meeting of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The BBIN MVA will transform 30 transport corridors into economic corridors, and is set to give subregional businesses a boost. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Transport |
 February 2016An immigration facility in the Banglabandha-Phulbari Land Port between Bangladesh and India—jointly inaugurated on 18 February 2016—is expected to ease people-to-people connectivity between the two countries. Strategically located on the Asian Highway, this border-crossing point is expected to boost trade and commerce not only between Bangladesh and India, but also with Bhutan and Nepal. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade Facilitation |
 February 2016The SAARC-ADB First Training Programme of Nodal Points on Updating SAARCSTAT Web Portal was organised by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The Training focused on updating national data available on the SAARCSTAT Web Portal to enhance usability, and equipped representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka with knowledge and capacity to upload and update their information on the website. Read More Tags: SAARC, Trade, Economic cooperation, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka |
 February 2016A delegation from the Port Authority of Thailand and officials from Bangladesh's Ministry of Shipping held the first official discussion on direct coastal shipping connectivity between Bangladesh and Thailand. The two countries agreed to carry out a feasibility study on the Chittagong Port, with the aim of signing a memorandum of understanding. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Thailand, Transport |
 January 2016The Bangladesh National Board of Revenue (NBR) organized a seminar on digital Customs and progressive engagement on the occasion of International Customs Day. In his address, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said the proposed Customs Act 2015 will be placed for approval of the national parliament in the next budget session. It will automate and modernize Customs and business procedures for export-import by providing NBR with a broad legal basis for implementation of an electronic Customs Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, Customs |
 January 2016The third meeting of the Joint Working Group on Subregional Cooperation between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) on Connectivity and Transit and Water Resources Management and Power/Hydropower deliberated new initiatives for deepening cooperation. Discussion centered around progress made under the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement and the proposed BBIN Rail Agreement. Read More Tags: BBIN, Trade Facilitation, Energy, Transport, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 January 2016Indian Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha led a two-day visit to the northeastern state of Tripura to inaugurate its trial broad gauge passenger train, and review progress of ongoing railway projects, including the Agartala-Akhaura railway project, which connects the rail networks of Bangladesh and India, and Agartala-Sabroom, a future connecting point for Chittagong port in Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Rail, Transport |
 January 2016Construction was completed in December 2015 of the 47-kilometer transmission line from India's western Tripura to Bangladesh's southern Comilla and is ready to start supplying 100 megawatt of power from India to Bangladesh. In January 2016, a meeting between Bangladesh and India fixed the tariff for the electricity supply and formal approval will start the flow of power. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Energy |
 January 2016Strengthening of regional cooperation and integration (RCI) remains a priority of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), according to its Bangladesh Country Operations Business Plan for 2016–2018. In the energy sector, ADB will continue to expand access to and make Bangladesh's power supply more reliable. In the transport sector, ADB will further promote safe, reliable, and fully integrated transport systems that move people and goods more efficiently within the country and across the region. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Asian Highway, Energy, Transport |
 January 2016Chittagong Seaport attained its 2016 target of handling 2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of containers one year early. This announcement was made by the Chittagong Port Authority on 3 January 2015 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan as chief guest. According to Minister Khan, Chittagong Port's container holding capacity increased to 40,000 TEU, owing to a rise in container handling demand, which grew by 700,000 TEU in the last 3 years. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, Trade, Transport, Shipping |
 December 2015The Government of India has released the first tranche of funding worth around $299,000 to construct a new waterway link between its northeast region and Bangladesh. With total allocation of $1.87 million, the project will link the Gomati and Howrah rivers in Tripura with the Meghna river in Bangladesh, to boost bilateral trade and the movement of people. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Transport |
 December 2015The SASEC Information Highway Project will enable Bangladesh to export at least 50 gbps of bandwidth to Bhutan, northeast India, and Nepal, said an official from Bangladesh's ICT Division. An initial 10 gbps will initially be imported to India's northeast, which could bring in earnings of around $1.23 million a year. The Indian states of Assam and Meghalaya, and Bhutan, have also expressed interest to import bandwidth. Read More Tags: ICT, Bangladesh, Bhutan |
 December 2015Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Nepal Minister for Commerce and Supplies Ganesh Man Pun discussed Bangladesh-Nepal trade and other trade-related agreements currently being negotiated on the sidelines of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization in Nairobi, Kenya. The two ministers agreed to complete all bilateral trade agreements and fast-track negotiations to promote bilateral trade ties. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Trade |
 December 2015On 8 December 1985, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Charter was signed by Heads of State/Government of SAARC Member States during the First SAARC Summit held in Dhaka, Bangladesh. SAARC promotes welfare economics, collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia, and accelerated socio-cultural development in the South Asia region. Read More Tags: SAARC, Regional Cooperation, South Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka |
 December 2015South Asia is set to play a strategic role in Asian integration. This commentary by Mr. Ganeshan Wignaraja, Advisor in the Asian Development Bank’s Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, shares how linking emerging South Asia with the more developed member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations will transform regional economies through development of regional connectivity, and create a huge regional market of 2-3 billion people. Read More Tags: South Asia, Economic corridor, Development, ASEAN, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Trade Facilitation, Transport, Tourism, manufacturing, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal |
 December 2015A 2-day meeting between Bangladesh and Bhutan headed by Commerce Secretaries discussed several bilateral concerns, including increasing products on the duty-free import/export list of both countries, potential hydropower imports from Bhutan to Bangladesh, Customs cooperation, and road and water transport agreement. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Customs, Trade Facilitation, Transport, BBIN |
 December 2015A seminar organized by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) discussed 'Trade Facilitation: Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainable Growth' in Bangladesh. Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr. Mashiur Rahman emphasized that trade facilitation measures should boost trade and promote investments. Dr. Khairuzzaman Mozumder, Deputy Chief of USAID, identified remaining key challenges in implementing the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement in the country. Read More Tags: Trade Facilitation, Bangladesh, Private Sector |
 November 2015The exchange of export-related data between designated adjacent border crossing points in the SASEC subregion commenced on 30 November 2015. This SASEC Customs Subgroup Subregional Project promotes the exchange of documents at five major border-crossing points between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal, to promote future electronic exchange of data and build a better risk profile of traders. Read More Tags: Trade Facilitation, Customs, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 November 2015Bangladesh's development partner representatives participated in deliberations held at the Bangladesh Development Forum 2015, which shared the country’s needs for infrastructure development. Recommendations to help facilitate growth include good regional connectivity, quality infrastructure development, and increasing participation from the private sector. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Transport, Energy |
 November 2015Bangladesh and India signed the Standard Operating Procedure to operationalize the 'Agreement on Coastal Shipping' formalized in June 2015. This Agreement will provide huge savings in logistics costs for cargo transport between the two countries, improving bilateral trade. The two parties have also agreed to sign an agreement on passenger and cruise vessels. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade Facilitation, Transport |
 November 2015Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice President Wencai Zhang pledged ADB's continuous support for Bangladesh's efforts on regional cooperation and integration in a meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He highlighted concrete results of Bangladesh's participation in regional cooperation, and discussed ADB plans to support Bangladesh's transformational infrastructure development. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade, Transport, Energy |
 November 2015A Meeting for the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal Motor Vehicle Agreement (BBIN MVA)on 3-4 December 2015 will finalize the transit fees for goods and passenger vehicles, and discuss other issues, said Bangladesh Road Transport Minister Obaidul Quader. Transport of passengers and goods under the BBIN MVA will formally start in January 2016, with initial restrictions in place. Read More Tags: BBIN, Transport, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 November 2015Several initiatives to improve Bangladesh's connectivity with India's North East region are in the pipeline, to increase people-to-people contact and cross-border business. These include revamping trade infrastructures to connect border points, and expanding Bangladesh's diplomatic and consular presence in India's North East region. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade, Transport, Energy |
 November 2015Sri Lanka High Commissioner in Dhaka, Ms. Yasoja Gunasekera said Bangladesh is working toward expanding economic ties with Sri Lanka for their mutual benefit, at an event organized by the Diplomatic Correspondents' Association-Bangladesh. She encouraged both countries to look beyond traditional economic thinking and explore initiatives to promote economic cooperation. Read More Tags: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Trade |
 November 2015Bhutan Economic Affairs Minister Lyonpo Norbu Wangchuk and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina discussed the possibility of exporting hydropower from Bhutan to Bangladesh. According to Minister Wangchuk, Bhutan is interested to supply hydropower to Bangladesh at the lowest possible cost to help meet the country's growing demand for electricity. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Energy |
 October 2015Bilateral discussions between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to sign a Free Trade Agreement enhancing trade and investment cooperation are at the final stage. According to Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, the two countries are working together to boost trade and increase connectivity. Bangladesh has proposed removal of all non-tariff barriers on exports, including pharmaceutical goods. Read More Tags: Trade, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka |
 October 2015Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lanka High Commissioner Yasoja Gunasekera discussed a possible scope of cooperation during a courtesy call paid by the High Commissioner to the Prime Minister in October. Prime Minister Hasina encouraged more Sri Lankan investments and joint ventures in Bangladesh's 22 special economic zones. Bangladesh is also considering introducing a sea route to Sri Lanka. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Trade, Energy, Transport |
 October 2015A Meeting between India's Minister for External Affairs and Governors of the North East region covered key aspects of the 'Act East Policy', including transport connectivity, border trade, and regional production and value chains. The Meeting stressed the need for better connectivity of the North East to a wider region, including Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Thailand, and discussed ongoing and planned cross-border connectivity projects. Read More Tags: India, Act East Policy, Transport, Trade Facilitation, Bangladesh |
 October 2015The Second SASEC Bangladesh-India Electrical Grid Interconnection Project will help boost the import of electricity from India to Bangladesh by doubling the capacity of the existing interconnection system. The project is expected to be completed by June 2018. The Asian Development Bank is providing $120 million loan financing; the Government of Bangladesh is allocating $63 million. Read More Tags: Energy, Bangladesh, India |
 September 2015The Power Grid Corporation of India began power transmission along its first "Power Transmission Express Highway". With a 6,000-megawatt capacity, this power corridor connects the northern states with the North Eastern Region, and will help both manage the supply of large-scale hydropower and connect power transactions done with Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Read More Tags: Energy, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal |
 September 2015The Asian Development Bank has approved additional financing for a SASEC transport project that supports preparation of high-priority railway and road projects in Bangladesh along the Trans-Asian Railway and the Asian Highway network. These transport projects will enhance cross-border traffic, expanding connectivity in the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal subregion and forming links between South Asia and Southeast Asia. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Transport, Rail, Ports, BBIN |
September 2015 Read a commentary on the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in Bangladesh. The TFA provides a series of measures to facilitate smooth and efficient movement of goods across borders inspired by best practices from around the world. It is expected to benefit all members of the World Trade Organization, including Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, Trade Facilitation Agreement |
 September 2015The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, Bangladesh is hosting a two-day Secretary-level meeting of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal (BBIN) to discuss the protocols of the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA). Secretary of Road Transport and Highways Division, MoRTB, said Bangladesh will allow cross-border cargo transport on roads connected to functional land ports. Read More Tags: BBIN, Bangladesh, Transport |
 September 2015Bangladesh businessmen envisage increased trade with India if constraints on land port infrastructure are addressed. Land ports and land Customs stations play a significant role in the country's trade within the subregion. Current limitations in infrastructure, communication, and excessive documentation create hurdles for trade efficiency. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, Private Sector |
 September 2015A new master plan outlining a long-term vision for Chittagong Port has been unveiled in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Development under the plan is expected to increase port efficiency and is estimated to cost around $1.9 billion. The master plan financed through SASEC Program technical assistance funded by the Asian Development Bank. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Ports, Trade Facilitation |
 September 2015The Government of Bangladesh will develop the country's land ports to spur regional trade, undertaking around $84.76 million worth of projects to improve land port infrastructure, warehouse facilities, Customs control procedures, and the institutional and regulatory framework. This initiative will facilitate more efficient movement of goods by cutting border-crossing times to and from Bangladesh, toward Bhutan, India, and Nepal. Read More Tags: Trade Facilitation, Bangladesh, BBIN |
 August 2015The National Board of Revenue of Bangladesh is set to present the Customs Act of 2015 for passage in the September parliamentary session. The new Customs Law, which aims to facilitate smooth international trade, reduce time and cost of doing business, and create a better investment climate, will replace the existing 1969 Customs Law. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, Customs |
 August 2015A meeting of the commerce ministries of Bangladesh and India to renew the Memorandum of Understanding for Bangladesh-India border markets agreed to double the purchase limit for buyers. This decision comes as the two countries prepare to set up more markets to boost bilateral ties and trade. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade |
 August 2015A meeting of Bangladesh's Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the Bangladesh Export Policy 2015-2018. The new export policy highlights increasing trade with Bhutan, India, and Nepal, and targets $60 billion in annual export turnover by 2021. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade, BBIN |
 August 2015A Meeting of the Joint Group of Customs of Bangladesh and Bhutan held in Thimphu, Bhutan on 26-27 July agreed to share export-import data from Phuentsholing and Burimari Customs stations. The Meeting also decided to consider opening Bangladesh's Chilmari and Roumari river routes to increase access between the two countries. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Trade Facilitation |
 August 2015Read a commentary on the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) as positive development for the BBIN subregional grouping. The BBIN MVA is a landmark framework agreement that aims to facilitate seamless flow of passenger, personal and cargo vehicular traffic between and among the BBIN countries. Read More Tags: BBIN, Transport, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 August 2015Bangladesh is seen as the new investment destination for Indian investors, particularly with the series of bilateral agreements signed between the two countries in June 2015. Trading and exporting appears lucrative for Indian businessmen due to Bangladesh’s weak manufacturing base, tariff-free access to developed markets, geographical proximity, and resilient economy. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, FDI |
 August 2015Bangladesh recorded a trade surplus with Nepal in 2014-2015 for the first time in 10 years, due to a decrease in lentil imports. Nepal Transit and Warehousing Company figures show Nepal exported goods worth about $10.8 million, against imports of about $23.9 million last fiscal year. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Trade |
 August 2015A Cabinet Committee Meeting on Public Purchase of the Government of Bangladesh approved four proposals for ongoing infrastructure projects, including contract awarding upgrade of a 70-kilometer long section of the Dhaka-Northwest corridor from two to four lanes. This road enhancement is being financed under the Bangladesh SASEC Road Connectivity Project. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Transport, Energy |
 August 2015The Bangladesh Government is set to approve in principle the establishment of a special economic zone for Indian investors in Mongla and Bheramara under India’s $2 billion line of credit (LOC). A Development Project Proposal is under consideration by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council. The Indian LOC would contribute $2 billion toward the total cost estimate of $2.37 billion for the 13 projects under the Memorandum of Understanding. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Special Economic Zone |
 August 2015The Bangladesh Government will take steps to widen the Dhaka-Sylhet highway to four lanes to facilitate the flow of traffic, following completion of a feasibility study and detailed design of this national highway. The study was conducted by the Road and Highways Department, Bangladesh, with funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) technical assistance. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Transport, Connectivity |
 July 2015Customs officials from Bangladesh and Bhutan met on 27 July 2015 in Thimphu, Bhutan to discuss removal of barriers that restrict bilateral trade, and the sharing of import and export data between the two countries. As important trading partners, Bangladesh and Bhutan are working to resolve non-tariff barriers to enhance trade efficiency and boost the exchange of goods. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Trade Facilitation |
 July 2015The Indian Government sanctioned about $155.8 million to lay a 15.06-kilometer (km) section of railtracks, connecting Indian Railways with Bangladesh through the North East. This India-funded Agartala-Akhaura railway junction in Bangladesh would reduce the distance from Agartala to Kolkata from 1,650 km to 515 km, avoid mountainous terrain, improve trade and commerce, and enhance connectivity. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Rail |
 July 2015An inter-ministerial meeting in Bangladesh reached consensus to set up a National Single Window (NSW) to facilitate cross-border trade and reduce the cost of doing business. The NSW will use a virtual system through which different organizations will be interconnected. The National Board of Revenue's Customs wing will be lead agency for the NSW. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade Facilitation, Customs |
 July 2015The full $200 million grant pledged by India to Bangladesh for construction of Padma Bridge under a $1 billion loan agreement has been disbursed. A recent meeting between India and Bangladesh also discussed implementation of a $2 billion loan agreement signed during India Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit in June 2015. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Transport |
 July 2015The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has set three conditions for the $120 million loan that will finance expansion of the Bangladesh-India Electrical Grid Interconnection Project: public notification of tariff regulations, issuing bids for power purchase from India, and written confirmation from the power grid corporation of India for transmission of an additional 500 megawatt of electricity to Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Energy, India |
 July 2015India’s Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad laid the foundation stone on 13 July 2015 to link Agartala, India in the Tripura border area with International Gateway Service at Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. This will strengthen telecommunications services and improve Internet connectivity in the landlocked North Eastern states of India. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, ICT, India |
 June 2015With the recent approval of the regional transit deal among four nations – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal – traffic volume will take a further upturn. The Government of Bangladesh plans to build a ‘Dhaka Bypass’ at about US$30.87 million under a public-private partnership initiative to improve traffic congestion in the overcrowded city. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, BBIN, Transport |
 June 2015Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal formed a subregional grouping under the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Framework, and signed a Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) allowing seamless transit across each other's territories at the Meeting of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal Transport Ministers on Regional Road Transport Connectivity. Several commentaries from across the region have been published on the BBIN MVA, and are shared below. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, BBIN, Transport |
 June 2015The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to provide about US$6 billion for projects in Bangladesh, including regional connectivity road transport and railway networks. ADB – through its country partnership program 2016-2018 – is committed to supporting regional connectivity in South Asia that boosts trade and commerce. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Transport |
 June 2015The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is set to further enhance transport connectivity within Bangladesh, and between Bangladesh and India, through the SASEC Railway Connectivity: Akhaura-Laksam Double Track Project. This $505 million ADB project will upgrade critical sections of Bangladesh Railway's Dhaka-Chittagong corridor and boost its market share in freight services. Read More Tags: Transport, Bangladesh, Rail, India |
 June 2015Several agreements were signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka, Bangladesh on 6-7 June 2015. The agreements included a $2 billion line of credit, as well as others in the areas of trade, connectivity, and cooperation in power supply. The two-day visit further strengthened bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Bilateral Trade |
 May 2015The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Agreement on Coastal Shipping between India and Bangladesh to carry out coastal movement of goods between the two countries. Bangladesh is currently India’s largest trade partner in South Asia and the coastal route is expected to provide an alternative route for transportation of import-export cargo between the two countries. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Transport |
 May 2015A month after India pledged another Line of Credit to Bangladesh, the Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance of the Government of Bangladesh prepared 11 development project proposals on various sectors including transport, education, information technology, and energy. The total cost of the proposed projects is estimated at $2.71 billion. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Economy, India, Transport |
 May 2015Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave the directive to go ahead with the construction of the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to handle growing passenger capacity and strengthen connectivity in the international arena. PM Hasina views Bangladesh as an important hub – a bridge between East and West. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Transport, Infrastructure |
 May 2015At the seminar on ‘Bangladesh-India Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade: Challenges and Opportunities’, held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 13 May 2015, policy and economic experts urged the two governments to remove navigation problems, reform customs procedures, develop ports, address lack of infrastructure facilities, and resolve policy constraints to tap into the potential of inland water transit. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Transport |
 May 2015The Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM-EC) – which received formal endorsement through an inter-governmental group meeting in December 2013 – could potentially bring significant benefits to the four countries by deepening economic cooperation and integration. BCIM-EC will increase socio-economic development and trade in South Asia. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Economic corridor |
 April 2015A coastal shipping agreement between Bangladesh and India was ratified on 21 April 2015 in New Delhi. Bangladesh Shipping Secretary Shafiq Alam Mehedi and Indian Shipping Secretary Rajib Kumar ratified the deal to facilitate trade and transportation of goods through water routes between the two countries. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Transport |
 April 2015The Cabinet of Bangladesh approved a 3-year agreement to export 10 gigabytes to India’s northeastern states on lease and commercial basis. State-owned entity Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Ltd (BSCCL) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) signed the “Agreement Between BSNL and BSCCL for Leasing of International Bandwidth for Internet at Akhaura (Zero Point)”. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, ICT |
 April 2015The Bangladesh Cabinet approved proposed amendments to the India-Bangladesh Trade Agreement allowing the two countries to access each other's rail, road, and sea routes for third-country trade. The agreement is a boon to trade in the subregion, paving the way for Bangladesh to transport products to Bhutan and Nepal, and for India to send goods directly to Myanmar. Read More Tags: Trade, Bangladesh, India |
 April 2015The Government of Bangladesh gave the go signal for two energy projects that will boost the country's capacity to import electricity from India. The two projects, roughly amounting to $204.6 million, will allow the country to import 600 megawatt electricity by boosting the country's transmission capacity and establishing a substation. Regional grid connectivity demonstrates the substantial benefits that come from enhanced regional cooperation. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Energy |
 March 2015The Government of Bangladesh will issue South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) certificates to allow South Asian countries to export at lower duty and receive duty benefits while shipping products in eight South Asian countries. The EPB recently decided to issue certificates to smaller apparel makers to help them export to neighboring countries and meet the growing demand of low-cost garments from Bangladesh. Read More Tags: SAFTA, Bangladesh, Trade |
 March 2015Bangladesh and India moved to establish a second cross-border railway link through Akhaura-Agartala to boost bilateral trade and business. The dual-gauge railway track to be funded by the Government of India will connect with the North-Eastern States of India and become the second effective railway corridor of the two neighboring countries. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Rail |
 February 2015The Railway Sector Investment Program, approved by the Asian Development Bank on October 2006 as a multitranche financing facility with total cost of $537.5 million, is approaching completion within 2015. The project contributes to sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction in Bangladesh by improving the country's railway network. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Transport, Poverty Reduction |
 February 2015West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has proposed a joint business council for Bangladesh and India to meet by April 2015 to address existing disputes in bilateral trade and business. The proposal followed discussions with business leaders during a 3-day visit to Sonargaon, Bangladesh. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Bilateral Trade |
 February 2015Bangladesh has once again been nominated as least developed countries’ (LDC) coordinator for 2015—its first time was in 1996 when former Industries and Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed attended the WTO Ministerial Conference in Singapore. Bangladesh was nominated due to its vital role and experience in bargaining with the developed world on behalf of the LDCs. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, WTO, LDC |
 February 2015The Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office has identified nine priority sectors for development cooperation with India under an umbrella agreement: power and hydropower, energy, commerce, connectivity (rail, road, water and motor vehicle), customs and immigration regulations, water management, and capacity building and capital dredging of Mongla Port. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Development Cooperation |
 February 2015The first Bangladesh-Nepal Expo 2015 in Kathmandu, Nepal attracted about 100 private businesses and more than 10,000 visitors. Enterprises from Bangladesh showcased the wide variety of products Nepal’s business community can source from Bangladesh. The fair opened potential areas of trade and encouraged entrepreneurs from both countries to create business linkages with each other. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Nepal, Bilateral Trade, Trade |
 February 2015An agreement that will enable seamless transit of passenger and goods along designated key routes in the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal (BBIN) subregion is in the pipeline. It will reduce costly and time-consuming unloading and loading of people and cargo at border crossing points. The agreement would help transform transport corridors linking BBIN into economic corridors and enhance people-to-people contact. Read More Tags: Transport, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal |
 January 2015Intra-regional trade share among South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) countries increased from 2011-2013 as economic exchange within the region strengthened, although overall intra-Asia trade declined. SASEC intra-regional trade also increased in the first seven months of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013, yet its trade with the world decreased. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade |
 January 2015Asian Development Bank Chief Economist Shang Jin-Wei has put Bangladesh’s potential to grow at 7.3%, above its current average of 6%. Despite its vast infrastructure needs, this makes Bangladesh one of the top 20 global performers in economic expansion. To continue this level of growth, it needs a reliable supply of power to reduce the cost of doing business. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Energy, Regional Cooperation |
 January 2015Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and India Minister for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman jointly inaugurated the first border market (“haat”) along the Tripura-Bangladesh frontier on 13 January 2015. Both ministers spoke optimistically about new opportunities for trade during the inauguration ceremony. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Trade, Transport |
 January 2015The Government of Bangladesh aims to graduate to middle-income country status by 2021. Once it reaches middle-income status, it will not enjoy duty-free benefit under GSP but move to the ‘GSP Plus’ scheme. Bangladesh will have to sign four international conventions on human rights, labor rights, environment, and governance to enjoy GSP Plus benefit from the EU. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Trade, WTO |
 December 2014The Asian Development Bank, along with other bilateral donors, will fund US$4.5 billion worth of infrastructure and energy-related projects in Bangladesh. The Economic Relations Division of the Bangladesh Ministry of Finance is seeking funding from ADB for four projects, including upgradation of Bheramara HVDC station to import additional 500MW power from India. Read More Tags: Infrastructure, Energy, Bangladesh |
 December 2014Bhutanese trucks carrying import/export cargo are now able to enter Bangladesh via India, according to Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed during a visit to Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay on 7 December 2014. The new agreement will allow trucks to carry products directly from Bangladesh for import to Bhutan. Read More Tags: Bhutan, Bangladesh, Transport, Trade Facilitation |
 December 2014Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has agreed with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to close trade gaps by exporting more goods and expanding the list of products free of tax and duty enjoyed by both countries. Bhutan’s total trade volume with Bangladesh is worth about US$ 25.6 million. Bangladesh is the only country in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation region in which Bhutan has a trade surplus. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bilateral Trade |
 November 2014In recent decades, Bangladesh has emerged as one of the largest export markets for India in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation region. From 1988-1989 to 1992-1993, India’s total exports increased by 164%, while the increase in imports to Bangladesh was 293%. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Trade |
 November 2014Bhutanese Ambassador Pema Choden, Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran, and Nepalese Ambassador Hari Kumar Shrestha visited the Land Customs Stations of Burimari-Changrabandha (Bangladesh-India), Phuentsholing-Jaigaon (Bhutan-India), Kakarbhitta-Panitanki (Nepal-India) and Phulbari-Banglabandha (India-Bangladesh) on 9-12 November 2014. BINA took the land route used by traders of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, India, Nepal |
 October 2014Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina addressed the Plenary Session of the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit 2014 and called for a more favorable trade regime, stronger technical cooperation, and better Asia-Europe connectivity. The European Union is Bangladesh’s largest export destination and Asia is Europe’s main trading partner with about US$2 trillion of Asia-Europe trade. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Asia-Europe, Trade |
 October 2014The Asian Development Bank’s South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation Program will finance key infrastructure projects worth $492 million under its country operations business plan: the second Bangladesh-India electrical grid interconnection ($105 million), Dohazari-Cox’s Bazar railway link ($217 million), and road and trade facilitation ($170 million). Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Regional Cooperation, Energy, Trade Facilitation |
 October 2014Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka Mr. Sandeep Chakravorty paid a 3-day visit to India's state of Tripura in October to meet ministers and top officials and review progress made in several India-Bangladesh infrastructure projects. Following his meeting with Power Minister Mr. Manik Dey, Chakravorty revealed that India has initiated steps to ensure 100 megawatt of power will be supplied to Bangladesh from Tripura's Palatana power plant. Read More Tags: Energy, Bangladesh, India |
 September 2014Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held separate bilateral meetings with Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala. The neighboring leaders discussed their support for the ‘neighborhood first’ policy and affirmed their commitment to South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) as a regional block that can solve common problems. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka |
 September 2014Bangladesh Foreign Minister Mr. Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali visited Prime Minister Shri Narenda Modi in New Delhi for the 3rd Meeting of the India-Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) on 19 September 2014. Foreign Minister Ali expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Modi's leadership and relations with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Read More Tags: India, Bangladesh, Regional Cooperation |
 September 2014Bangladesh has agreed in principle to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank established by China in early 2014 to invest in infrastructure construction in Asia and promote economic cooperation. Economic Relations Division Secretary Mohammad Mejbahuddin will sign the Memorandum of Understanding in October. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Regional Cooperation, Regional Development Bank |
 September 2014The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Secretariat headquarters was formally opened on 13 September 2014 in Dhaka, Bangladesh with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leading the inaugural ceremonies. Read More Tags: BIMSTEC, Bangladesh, Transport, Technical Assistance |
 August 2014Following a meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of an India-Bangladesh business conclave on 24 August 2014, Tripura Industries and Commerce Minister Tapan Chakraborty said that Bangladesh will allow neighboring countries to use Ashuganj and Chittagong sea ports for multi-modal transport. This move is expected to further enhance economic integration among South Asian countries. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bilateral Trade, India, Connectivity, Transport |
 August 2014Bangladesh's decided to join the $50 billion New Development Bank formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) as an alternative source of development funding other than the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). In joining the New Development Bank, Bangladesh will have more options to receive concessional investments, further develop the country's infrastructure, and lessen loan costs from multinational banks. Read More Tags: BRICS, Bangladesh, Development Bank |
 August 2014Bangladesh Finance Minister Mr. Abul Maal Abdul Muhith told reporters that good relations between Bangladesh and India are beneficial to both countries. Prior to the press interview, Finance Minister Muhith met with visiting Asian Development Bank Vice President Mr. Bindu Lohani to discuss further enhancing connectivity between Bangladesh and India. Read More Tags: Bangladesh, Bilateral Trade, India, Transport |
 August 2014After striking a similar deal in India, Nepal is set to sign a power trade agreement with Bangladesh. A Memorandum of Understanding is expected to be vetted by Nepal and presented during the power sector cooperation meeting in December, after the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation summit. Hydropower produced in Nepal through power sector cooperation, would be exported to Bangladesh through India's power corridor. Read More Tags: Nepal, Bangladesh, Energy, India |
 July 2014 |
 July 2014As Sri Lanka-Bangladesh trade crosses the $100 million mark for the first time, Bangladesh seeks to set up an investment promotion mechanism to increase trade volumes and improve bilateral trade. The Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) incorporates investment fundamentals for Bangladesh investors looking at Sri Lanka as a future trade partner. Read More Tags: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bilateral Trade |
 July 2014Bangladesh's Chittagong Port recorded a rise of 10.46% in container handling during fiscal year 2013-2014. This statistic counts as Chittagong Port's biggest growth in terms of cargo handled. ADB approved the Chittagong Port Trade Facilitation Project in October 2004 to increase the capacity of its container terminal. Read More Tags: Trade Facilitation, Transport, Bangladesh |
 July 2014The Asian Development Bank-financed Dhaka-Chittagong Expressway Public-Private Partnership Design Project will assist the Government of Bangladesh to prepare detailed engineering design documents of the existing two-lane Dhaka-Chittagong highway that will be developed into a six-lane freeway. It will provide badly-needed additional road capacity. Several firms were chosen in the joint venture that is expected complete the project in 2023. Read More Tags: Transport, Bangladesh, India |
 June 2014 |
 February 2014Aligned with South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC), the Government of Bangladesh will implement a Tk 27.88 billion ($358. 59 million) project to upgrade the Jaidevpur-Chandra-Tangail-Elenga highway which forms part of Asian Highway-2, Asian Hghway-41, and SAARC Highway Corridor-4 to facilitate road connectivity with neighboring countries. Read More Tags: Transport, Connectivity, Bangladesh |
 November 2012 |
 April 2012During the Bilateral Interconnection Agreement Meeting held on 25-27 April 2012 in Manila major telecommunication providers from SASEC countries signed agreements for the direct peering and exchange of internet traffic through high speed fiber-optic links to be built under the Information Highway. Read More Tags: ADB, Bangladesh, Bhutan, ICT, Nepal, Regional Integration |
March 2012 |
