Bangladesh moots FTA or PTA with Sri Lanka

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have stressed the importance making the bilateral Joint Working Group (JWG) on trade with the aim of concluding an Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the two countries.

This was discussed when Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Tarik Ahsan met the Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Harsha De Silva in Colombo recently.

During the meeting, the Bangladesh High Commissioner sought the support of the Deputy Foreign Minister in a bid to further enhance the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. 

While assuring his cooperation, Dr. Silva stressed the need to strengthen relations in the economic domain, particularly in boosting and diversifying trade between the two countries. The High Commissioner indicated that there is a good prospect of increasing imports of pharmaceuticals, plastics, home appliances, electronics, footwear, iron and steel, ocean-going ships, vegetables and so on from Bangladesh to Sri Lanka. 

The meeting recognized the significance of enhanced connectivity in promoting economic and social ties between the two countries. They expressed satisfaction at the holding of the Joint Study Group (JSG) on Shipping held in Colombo on 05-06 November 2015.

The two sides concurred on the need to complete the ongoing negotiations on a number of agreements and MoUs between the two countries ahead of high-level visits from Sri Lanka to Bangladesh expected early next year.

This was the first one-on-one meeting between the newly appointed Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Silva and the High Commissioner. The High Commissioner was accompanied by Counsellor of the High Commission, Muhammad Sakib Sadakat.