India, Bangladesh bilateral ties grow with PM visit

Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, paid an official visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. She was also invited as chief guest at the India Economic Summit, organised by the World Economic Forum

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 –

  • Standard Operating Procedure on the use of Chattogram and Mongla ports
  • MoU on withdrawal of 1.82 cusec of water from Feni river by India for drinking water supply, scheme for Sabroom town, Tripura, India
  • Agreement concerning implementation of GoI Line of Credits (LOC) extended to Bangladesh
  • MoU between University of Hyderabad and University of Dhaka
  • Cultural Exchange Programme- Renewal
  • MoU on Cooperation in Youth Affairs
  • MoU on providing Coastal Surveillance System

Recent Articles

India’s exports projected to surpass US$800 billion with government support

November 8, 2024

A. Sakthivel, chairman of the Apparel Made-ups and Home Furnishing …

Read More

India-ASEAN alliance crucial for stability, economic growth: EAM

November 8, 2024

India and ASEAN’s vast populations create significant potential to address …

Read More

India’s Q2 GDP growth expected around 6.5%: SBI report

November 7, 2024

According to a report by the State Bank of India …

Read More