Secretary-level meeting begins today to boost Bangladesh-Bhutan trade

The two-day secretary-level meeting between Bangladesh and Bhutan will begin today at a hotel in the capital in order to make effective the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) signed earlier between the two countries and also to boost bilateral trade and commerce.

Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Tapan Kanti Ghosh today said that two-day parley would focus to make more effective the PTA signed between the two countries and also to boost the bilateral trade and commerce.

He informed that in line with the signed PTA between the two countries, Bhutan wants to include some more products under such facility. Besides, they also have proposed to lunch fully the Sonarhat Land Port.

Tapan said, "We've moved a lot in terms of making effective the PTA. The customs authorities of the two countries have also issued SRO to make effective the PTA on July 1. It's a big achievement for us and now it's our main task to carry forward this initiative." 

The Commerce Secretary informed that the draft of the transit agreement and protocol has also been framed to facilitate transportation of goods while an agreement in this regard is likely to be signed in the secretary-level meeting.

It is mentionable that Bangladesh signed PTA with Bhutan on December 6, 2020 which is also the first of such agreement for Bangladesh. Under this agreement, some 100 Bangladeshi items would get duty free access to Bhutan while some 34 Bhutanese items would get duty free access to Bangladesh.

The Senior Commerce Secretary will lead the Bangladesh delegation while Secretary of Ministry of Economic Affairs of Bhutan Dasho Karma Tshering will lead the Bhutanese side.