Seminar recommends India-Bangladesh value chains for agricultural products

India-Bangladesh bilateral trade, one of the highest in SAARC regions, needs to focus more on developing regional value chains to promote specific agriculture commodities, speakers told a seminar in Agartala.

Tripura Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 8 Sept 2016, 05:03 AM
Updated : 8 Sept 2016, 05:03 AM

The seminar was organised by CUTS International, with support from the Asia Foundation and backed by Tripura govern Industries and Commerce Department.

It looked at trade facilitation between Tripura and Bangladesh on specific agricultural commodities - like potato, green chilies, tomato and eggplant.

During his address V George Jenner, Tripura Industries and Commerce director, pitched for more 'border haats,' through which such trade could take place.

"I would prefer for more border haats than the land customs stations. Through this people-to-people contact is fostered."

Jenner said that though the trade between Tripura and Bangladesh through land customs is largely in favour of Bangladesh.

"But when it comes to border haats, the result is reverse. That proves trade at local levels has different dynamics than those at national level."

He said the window of opportunity in terms of connectivity and trade in the Eastern South Asia region, that Tripura is a part of, is really opening up an now. "It is the right time to make a move."

Tripura Chamber of Commerce President ML Debnath highlighted on the impediments in trade expansion relating to tariff.

He pitched for trade liberalisation among countries through mutual concessions, simple and transparent rules and regulation, quick disposal of sanitary and phytosanitary issues, harmonisation of standards, mutual recognition of standards and certification.

Bangladesh diplomat Md Moniruzzaman, assured all support to improve trade between his country and the northeast Indian state.

CUTS International Associate Director Prithviraj Nath said their recent study has found huge opportunities for trade in farm outputs across the borders.

"This is particularly relevant given that Tripura, at present gets a lot of agricultural commodities from far away Indian states, including West Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya at a relatively higher cost and longer time but which can be easily imported from the nearby areas of Bangladesh and at a much cheaper price."

Nath said that is, however, not happening because there are regulatory barriers to import agricultural commodities.

He further shared that while such regulations towards ensuring safety of plant, animal and human life in India are legitimate; there are ways to facilitate trade in such items without compromising the safety.

According to him, focused advocacy and capacity building needs to be undertaken since regional value chains in agriculture can be game changer for Eastern South Asia and common consumers and producers in Tripura and the North East can hugely benefit from it.

The event was attended by officials from the department of Industries and Commerce, local entrepreneurs, Bangladesh's PRAN Group, Royal Latex and Tripura Bamboo Mission.