Indian delegation in Dhaka to boost bilateral trade

An 18-member delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) arrived in Dhaka on Monday for a three-day visit (17-19 August) aimed at driving trade, investment, and industrial cooperation between Bangladesh and India.

Led by CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee, the delegation includes top executives from major Indian corporations such as Larsen & Toubro, Mahindra Group, Apollo Hospitals, Bharat Biotech, Godrej Industries, and Indian Oil Corporation.

During the visit, the delegation will meet key Bangladesh government officials, including Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, to discuss expanding bilateral trade and strengthening economic linkages.

The CII team will also attend a joint luncheon hosted by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), featuring Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo as chief guest, to engage directly with Bangladeshi business leaders.

Speaking to Daily Sun, FBCCI Administrator Md Fazlul Hoque said business interactions must remain separate from political disputes to maintain strong bilateral ties.

“In my view, business should remain separate from politics. It is always better for the business community to operate independently of politics,” he said.

Hoque emphasised India’s strategic importance as Bangladesh’s largest neighbour, citing its vast population, economic strength, and expanding consumer market as key opportunities for Bangladeshi exports.

Welcoming the visiting Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) delegation to Dhaka, he said, “While there are sometimes disagreements and misunderstandings between the two countries, regular visits and exchanges are important for resolving such issues and strengthening mutual understanding.” Hoque, who also formerly led the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), described the 18-member CII team as a “strong delegation” featuring India’s top business groups, and noted that upcoming talks will focus on expanding Bangladeshi product exports into the Indian market and addressing mutual trade priorities.

He said the two sides would also explore opportunities for Indian investment in Bangladesh through individual investments or joint ventures.

“We believe it is better to minimise all kinds of barriers to trade. From the private sector’s perspective, the fewer obstacles there are to business and commerce, the greater the potential for trade to grow,” he said.

A senior commerce ministry official said bilateral trade relations between the two countries were facing fresh strains as New Delhi had imposed anti-dumping duties and non-tariff barriers on some Bangladeshi exports.

The restrictive measures have targeted jute goods, hydrogen peroxide, ready-made garments and apparel shipments through land ports, he added.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India stood at US$10.57 billion in the fiscal 2023-24. 

Bangladesh imported goods worth $9.15 billion from India and exported products worth $1.56 billion during the period.

The data also showed that India was the eighth-largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh, with investment amounting to $887.81 million from 2001 to March 2025. Net investment from India stood at $132.83 million in FY24.