Bangladesh Commerce Minister: Bangladesh-Sri Lanka FTA to be Concluded by 2018
7 September 2017
Mr. Tofail Ahmed, Commerce Minister, Bangladesh, called to expedite conclusion of the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to help increase the trade volume between the two countries. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka bilateral trade grew by 43% between 2012 to 2016.
In a meeting with Mr. Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Sri Lanka, the Bangladesh Commerce Minister emphasized the need to hold a Joint Working Group Meeting to discuss concluding the FTA by 2018, and broadening trade baskets through initiatives such as importing more pharmaceutical products from Bangladesh at a lower cost.
Mr. Bathiudeen stated that Ministry of Industry and Commerce officials are reviewing the proposed Bangladesh-Sri Lanka FTA. He also affirmed plans to hold a Joint Working Group on Trade Meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka before end of 2017.
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