Govt to press wider access for exports to India

Commerce Minister Faruk Khan said yesterday Bangladesh would demand duty-free access for 232 products, including readymade garments, to the Indian market.
The demands will be placed when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visits India on January 10. She will also propose shortening of the list of sensitive goods so that Bangladesh can export more products to the country and reduce the trade imbalance in bilateral trade.
India has 460 products on its sensitive list.
Khan said Bangladesh would demand removal of all kinds of non-tariff barriers to Bangladeshi exports to India.
The minister was speaking to reporters after a meeting with leaders of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry at his secretariat.
He claimed success in controlling the prices of essential commodities despite high global prices, although there were limitations in some cases.
Khan said the government is importing 50,000 tonnes of soybean oil soon to increase stocks of the item.