Tripura Industry and commerce minister Manoj Kanti Deb said the bilateral trade between Tripura and Bangladesh is gradually growing and is enabling the state to become the gateway to Southeast Asia.
Deb took part at the state-level seminar on export potential and exhibition of Tripura at Pragya Bhavan on Vanijya Utsav held as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, commemorating 75 years of India’s Independence. The Vijay Utsav was themed as Showcasing India as a Rising Economic Force.
Inaugurating the seminar, the minister claimed that the work of expanding trade with foreign countries is going in full swing and several steps have been taken for this. “As part of this, an alliance bridge has been built over the Feni river, through which it will be possible to import and export directly by accessing the Chittagong seaport of Bangladesh.”
He said, “Work has been undertaken to set up an integrated checkpost for the purpose of expanding international trade and for this land has already been acquired. The volume of imports and exports with Bangladesh is gradually increasing as compared to the previous years of the state.”
“Tripura recorded over Rs. 733 crore import and export business with Bangladesh during the 2020-21 financial year which was over Rs. 390 crore during the 2017-18 financial year. Similarly the state recorded Rs. 16.39 crore in export business with Bangladesh during the 2020-21 financial year which was Rs. 6.46 crore during the 2017-18,” Deb said.
He also said that to enhance the economy of the state of Tripura initiatives have been taken to create a special economic zone in Sonamura of South Tripura district.
He said that with the work of expansion of Agartala-Akhaura railway to be completed very soon there is also a proposal to set up an ICP at the Nishchintapur border. Besides, the proposal of establishing a rail link from Belonia to Feni in Bangladesh has been submitted to the Union Ministry of External Affairs, Deb said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Tripura Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. – Tinku Roy taking part in the seminar had emphasized on the importance of exporting bamboo and rubber products to neighboring Bangladesh. He said that in order to expand the national product of bamboo and rubber, it is necessary to think from a commercial point of view. He urged to take the issue of bringing rubber farmers under insurance coverage.
The seminar on Tuesday was jointly organized by the Rubber Board of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Central Government and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade with the support of the State Department of Industry and Commerce.
Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh at Agartala – Mohammad Jobayed Hossain, Additional DGFT of the Union Ministry of Industries and Commerce Vijay Kumar, Executive Director of the Central Government’s Rubber Board Dr. KN Raghavan, Secretary of the Department of Industry and Commerce PK Goel and Director Tarit Kanti Chakma remained present in the seminar.
