Why in News ?
A 13-member delegation from Bangladesh visited India from July 9-12, 2024, to explore the transhipment potential of Bangladeshi cargo at East Coast ports in India.
Objective :
The delegation aimed to gain firsthand knowledge of the technical feasibility, commercial viability, and infrastructure facilities at Indian ports to assess their potential for transhipping Bangladeshi cargo.
Discussions and Agreements :
The delegation discussed new shipping and trade opportunities with Indian officials.
They explored the possibility of starting river cruise services between Dhaka and Vishakhapatnam.
The Indian side agreed to provide comprehensive data analysis and comparisons to demonstrate the benefits of using Indian ports over existing transhipment ports.
The Bangladeshi delegation identified several bottlenecks in Exim trade using Indian ports.
The head of the Bangladeshi delegation assured that a stakeholders’ meeting would be held in Dhaka to review the data and analysis from India. The visit aimed to strengthen maritime connectivity between India and Bangladesh.
The visit reflects the growing cooperation between India and Bangladesh in the shipping and trade sector, aiming to enhance economic ties and regional connectivity.