October 5, 2019
The two Prime Ministers exchanged agreements during the visit, and inaugurated three bilateral projects
PM Sheikh Hasina was also present at the India-Bangladesh Business Forum meeting held in Delhi
Three SEZs have been set up in Bangladesh to attract Indian investors and broaden the country’s export base
Indian exports to Bangladesh in 2018-19 was valued at US$9.2 billion, with imports valued at US$1.2 billion
Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, paid an official visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on October 5th. The visit coincided with PM Hasina attending the India Economic Summit, organised by the World Economic Forum, as a chief guest. Additionally, she was also present at the India-Bangladesh Business Forum meeting held in Delhi that week.
Acknowledging existing bilateral cooperation between the two nations, the two Prime Ministers stated intentions to further collaboration through the signing of several new MoUs and Agreements. Thereafter, they successfully inaugurated three bilateral projects via videolink.
The India-Bangladesh Business Forum meeting, attended by PM Hasina, focused on the huge potential for investment in Bangladesh and collaboration in infrastructure, technology, and energy. At the event, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Railways, Piyush Goyal, urged Indian industry and business heads to play a role in the Bangladesh’s growth story, creating trade opportunities through expansions in the railway sector for instance. In support of this, PM Hasina stated that three Special Economic Zones have been set up in Bangladesh to attract Indian investors and broaden the country’s export base.
As India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia, exports to Bangladesh were valued at US$9.2 billion in the financial year 2018-19, while imports from Bangladesh stood at US$1.2 billion for the same period. Cumulative FDI from India to Bangladesh has more than doubled to US$570.1 million in 2018, following PM Hasina’s previous visit in April 2017 which oversaw the signing of 13 agreements for Indian investment into power and energy sectors.
During the visit, two Government to Business (G2B) MoUs were signed between India and Bangladesh, along with seven MoUs / agreements –