THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(DR. D. PURANDESWARI)
[a] India-Bangladesh bilateral trade for last 3 years, including current year:
(Value in US $ Million)
Year Exports Imports Total Trade
2009-10 2433.77 254.66 2688.44
2010-11 3242.90 446.75 3689.66
2011-12 3789.20 584.64 4373.83
2012-13 2784.63 295.39 3080.02
(Apr-Oct)
Source-DGCIS
[b] Yes, Madam.
[c] India has reduced its Sensitive List for the Least Developed Countries
[including Bangladesh] under the South Asian Free Trade Area Agreement [SAFTA]
from 480 tariff lines to just 25 tariff lines. Zero basic customs duty access
has been given to all items removed from the sensitive list. Commensurately,
Bangladesh has also reduced its SAFTA sensitive list for non-LDCs (including India]
from 1241 tariff lines to 993 tariff lines [20% reduction]. Both Governments have
taken necessary steps to improve physical infrastructure for greater bilateral
trade facilitation.
[d] Yes, Madam.
[e] Both sides have taken steps to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to
bilateral trade. To enhance bilateral trade, an `India Show` was organized jointly
by the Government of India and the FICCI at Dhaka, Bangladesh from December 3-5,
2012 to increase the future trade and investment opportunities.
