Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has said Bangladesh is interested to export quality products such as furniture, medicines, garments and food items to India’s Manipur and its adjoining regions.”Bangladesh has achieved a good position in trade across the world including India. If bilateral trade with Manipur is increased both Bangladesh and India will be benefitted,” said the commerce minister during a meeting with Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh at his office, according to information received here on Friday.Tofail Ahmed said India has offered Bangladesh duty and quota free market access for all products except drugs and arms to reduce the trade gap. But imposition of countervailing duties is hampering Bangladesh’s trade with India in some areas, he said and hoped that it would be possible to solve this issue through discussion.Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said there is a huge demand of Bangladesh products in Manipur and if products are imported from Bangladesh the people of Manipur will get quality products. He said business people of the two countries will have to come forward in this regard.A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and Manipur Chamber aiming at increasing the trade between Bangladesh and India’s Manipur state.Minister for the Department of Commerce and Industries of the Manipur Government Govindas Konthoujam and FBCCI President Abdul Matlub Ahmed were present.
