India has emerged as Bangladesh’s largest export partner, more so than Japan and China. Joint Secretary (Bangladesh and Myanmar) in the Union Ministry of External Affairs Smita Pant said.
She said this during a round of discussions held in Agartala on Wednesday, focusing on “Exploring new trade routes from India’s northeast to the Bay of Bengal via a transit agreement with Bangladesh.”
Smita Pant disclosed that the bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India has experienced remarkable growth, with exports to Bangladesh skyrocketing from USD 450 million to a substantial USD 2 billion. This substantial surge in trade underscores the growing economic ties between the two South Asian nations.
One of the major infrastructural projects contributing to this burgeoning trade relationship is the Agartala-Akhaura rail link project connecting Tripura with West Bengal via Bangladesh.
The project on the Indian side is almost complete and the rail line will be inaugurated by the end of this year. Smita Pant revealed that this vital rail link is set to be inaugurated by the end of this year, serving as the seventh rail connection between India and its neighboring countries.
The roundtable discussion in Agartala brought together key figures to deliberate on the topic of the discussion. Among the participants, Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Agartala, Arif Mohammad, Chairman of the Land Port Authority of India, Aditya Mishra, and Divisional Manager of Operations, Lamding Division of NF Railway Ajitesh Das spoke on the issue. Besides, representatives from export-import business groups and Chambers of Commerce actively engaged in the dialogue, underscoring the collaborative efforts to enhance regional trade.
The exponential growth in trade between India and Bangladesh, coupled with the imminent inauguration of the Agartala-Akhaura rail link, demonstrates the increasing economic cooperation between the two countries, fostering new trade routes and regional connectivity. This development holds promise for further strengthening the bonds between India and its neighboring nations in the years to come.