The meeting of the joint working group on trade between India and Bangladesh concluded in Agartala on Thursday with both sides agreeing to develop infrastructure in the land custom stations and reduce non tariff barriers.
The additional secretary of the Union Ministry of Commerce, MVP Sastri, and additional secretary of Bangladesh ministry of commerce, Ilius Ahmed, signed a memorandum of understanding after the meeting.
Briefing newsmen, Sastri said both sides felt the need for development and modernisation of infrastructures of existing land custom stations and increase in its numbers in Bangladesh and in the border states of India.
The officials of land customs from both sides would soon meet to workout and prioritise the infrastructure development work and enhance numbers of land custom stations, he said in the presence of Ahmed.
The recommendations of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and FICCI regarding enhancment of trade and commerce were also discussed and both sides agreed to the reduction of non-tarrif barriers for promotion of trade.
They also agreed on multimodal transport in communications including roads, railways and ports, he said.
{{/usCountry}}They also agreed on multimodal transport in communications including roads, railways and ports, he said.
{{/usCountry}}To a question, he said there was wide trade imbalance between India and south Asian countries, including Bangladesh and the country was interested in reducing it.
Sastri and Ahmed said Thursday's meeting was "very successful" and the next one would be held in Dhaka.