Bangladesh

Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia

Last updated: July 21, 2021
  • overview
  • strengths
  • Bilateral Agreements
  • bilateral trade
  • agencies
  • Indian Mission

7 per cent per annum is Bangladesh's growth rate

Cooperation in power sector has become one of the hallmarks of India-Bangladesh relations

US$3bn is total Indian investment proposal in Bangladesh

US$8bn worth credit line has been pledged to Bangladesh by India in eight years

Government of India has also been providing grant assistance to Bangladesh for various infrastructure projects

US$ US$ 0.08mn
FDI inflow during April 2019-December 2020

US$ 10,172.67mn

Value of bilateral trade in 2020-2021

10,391
Overseas Indians living in Bangladesh

US$ 317.5bn Estimated size of the economy in 2019

Skilled

labor cost base is less than the other major cities in Asia

Abundant

supply of natural gas and water and very fertile soil

Transportation

logistics & services, light manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul, clean technologies and biotechnology sectors are good areas for investment

India-Bangladesh Bilateral Relations

India and Bangladesh share a relationship anchored in history, culture, language, and shared values of secularism, democracy
India and Bangladesh hold Commerce Secretary level meeting in New Delhi

Both sides held extensive discussions on a variety of issues of mutual interest, like Border Haats, joint study for the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, India-Bangladesh CEOs’ Forum, sharing of trade data, regional connectivity initiatives, harmonization of standards, upgradation of border trading infrastructure and facilitation of business visas.
List of MoUs signed during the 5th India - Bangladesh JCC

Four MoUs were signed during the course of the 5th Indo-Bangladesh JCC.

Official Visit of Prime Minister of Bangladesh to India

Several bilateral documents were signed, exchanged, adopted and handed over during the visit.
Second Addendum to the Protocol on Transit and Trade

As part of the second addendum, Indo Bangladesh Protocol routes have been increased to 10 with the inclusion of Sonamura- Daudkhandi routes, Rajshahi-Dhulian-Rajshahi Routes upto Aricha as well as roundabout routes along Kolkata - Shilghat, Kolkata - Karimganj and Karimganj-Shilghat.

Joint Statement from PM Modi's visit to Bangladesh

During Prime Minister Modi's visit to Bangladesh from March 26-27, 2021, the Heads of State discussed partnerships in Water Resources, Connectivity, Public Healthcare, Security and IT/ITes.

17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting (April 01, 2021)

The Meeting saw the identification of three MoUs for signing at the upcoming BIMSTEC Meeting in Sri Lanka : (i) MoU on Mutual Cooperation between Diplomatic Academies/Training Institutions of BIMSTEC Member States, (ii) Memorandum of Association on the Establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF) in Colombo and (iii) BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters. Sectors for bilateral cooperation were also identified for ratification.

Indo-Bangladesh Waterway connectivity to strengthen Bilateral Relations

In 1972, the Protocol for Inland Water Trade & Transit …

India's Exports and Imports to Bangladesh

Source: Department of Commerce

Values in US $ Millions

S.No. \Year 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019
1 EXPORT 6,451.47 6,034.94 6,820.11 8,614.35 9,210.06
2 %Growth -6.46 13.01 26.31 6.92
3 India’s Total Export 310,338.48 262,291.09 275,852.43 303,526.16 330,078.09
4 %Growth -15.48 5.17 10.03 8.75
5 %Share 2.08 2.3 2.47 2.84 2.79
6 IMPORT 621.37 727.15 701.68 685.65 1,044.80
7 %Growth 17.02 -3.5 -2.29 52.38
8 India’s Total Import 448,033.41 381,007.76 384,357.03 465,580.99 514,078.42
9 %Growth -14.96 0.88 21.13 10.42
10 %Share 0.14 0.19 0.18 0.15 0.2
11 TOTAL TRADE 7,072.84 6,762.09 7,521.79 9,299.99 10,254.86
12 %Growth -4.39 11.23 23.64 10.27
13 India’s Total Trade 758,371.89 643,298.84 660,209.46 769,107.15 844,156.51
14 %Growth -15.17 2.63 16.49 9.76
15 %Share 0.93 1.05 1.14 1.21 1.21
16 TRADE BALANCE 5,830.10 5,307.79 6,118.42 7,928.70 8,165.26
17 India’s Trade Balance -137,694.93 -118,716.67 -108,504.60 -162,054.83 -184,000.33

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA)

(+880) 2 55007241 / 42 / 43 / 44 / 45

Visit Website

Prime Minister's Office, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, E-6/B Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Dhaka-1207

High Commission of India, Dhaka

(+880) 2 55067 301 / 302 / 303 / 308

Visit Website

Plot No. 1-3,
Park Road, Baridhara
Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh

Commercial Representative

(+880) 2 55067 329

Visit Website

Second Secretary (Commerce)

Opportunities

Agricultural exports

    DURUM WHEAT: SEED (100111)
    OTHER DURUM WHEAT EXCL SEED (100119)
    Semi-milled/wholly milled rice, whether or not polished/glazed (100630)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

    Milk in powder/granules/oth. solid form, fat content by wt. not >1.5% (040210)
    Milk in powder/granules/oth. solid form, unsweetened, fat content by wt. >1 … (040221)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

    Onions & shallots, fresh/chilled (070310)
    OTHER CANE SUGAR: (170114)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

    Chickpeas (garbanzos), dried, shelled, whether or not skinned/split (071320)
    Peas (Pisum sativum), dried, shelled, whether or not skinned/split (071310)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

    Lentils, dried, shelled, whether or not skinned/split (071340)

    agriexchange.apeda.gov.in
Minerals

    Estimated Reserve – Gravel Deposit 2200 million ton

    Estimated Reserve – Hard Rock 115 million ton

     

    gsb.gov.bd

    Reserve – White Clay – 255 million tons

    gsb.gov.bd

    Production: Peat – 923,276.080 million ton (2018)

    petrobangla.org.bd

    Reserve – 25192.8 million tons (estimated)

    gsb.gov.bd

    Production – 968.7 billion cubic feet (2017-2018)

    petrobangla.org.bd

    Production: 18.24 lakh tonnes ( 2018-19 )

    wmc.org.pl

    Reserve: Glass Sand – 5117.25 million tons (estimated)

priority sectors

Here are the leading sectors of opportunities for foreign investors

Electrical Machinery
Electronic Systems
Food Processing
IT and BPM
Leather
Ports and Shipping
Renewable Energy
Retail & E-commerce

Top Import/ Export Items

India's top import from Bangladesh
  • Textile fabrics
  • Capital machinery
  • Dyeing chemicals
India's top export to Bangladesh
  • Rice
  • Sugar
  • Pulses
  • Chemical and pharmaceuticals
  • Cereals
  • Vehicles

Bilateral Investors

Reliance

Adani Group

NTPC

Country News

India approves 66 FDI proposals out of 347 from neighbouring countries

March 17, 2022

Building an Integrated South Asian Regional Power Market

October 25, 2021

A step towards net-zero emission, India exports 0.8MT of coal with reduced imports

August 8, 2021

Relaunching of Indo-Bangladesh train link to further connectivity and cross-border trade

August 2, 2021

India registers eight-fold trade surplus with several Indo-Pacific countries in 2020: CII

July 15, 2021
View All