Dhaka, Delhi can turn proximity into economic opportunities

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Sunday said Bangladesh and India can really transform their geographical proximity into new economic opportunities by setting a forward-looking and people-centric agenda.

He made the remarks while talking to reporters at Secretariat after his meeting with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury.

Their discussion focused on cooperation in financial sector, emerging areas such as digital economy and artificial intelligence, as well as improving the ease of doing business to promote greater investment and deepen economic cooperation between the two countries.

Their discussion focused on cooperation in financial sector, emerging areas such as digital economy and artificial intelligence, as well as improving the ease of doing business to promote greater investment and deepen economic cooperation between the two countries.

They discussed ways to enhance trade and economic ties between the two friendly neighbours and make economic engagement more convenient for both sides.

“The whole idea is how we can enhance our trade and economic ties, how we can strengthen our economic connectivity and how we can promote our economic cooperation,” he said.

The High Commissioner said trade is already taking place through various channels and stressed the need to make it more convenient as part of improving the ease of doing business.

He said they also discussed cooperation in the financial sector and taxation reforms, as well as greater use of technology to make economic participation more inclusive.

The High Commissioner shared India’s successful experience in financial inclusion, describing the discussion as a very forward-looking conversation.

The Indian envoy said the meeting was overall very positive, noting that both countries have large economies and forward-looking societies with significant potential to work together.

Eralier at an Iftar event, the High Commissioner noted that as two aspiring and forward moving societies, India and Bangladesh stand at the cusp of a new future where they can offer to each other and to the region, shared prosperity by working together.

He expressed India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh, and described the presence of the large number of guests from a wide array of Bangladeshi society at the Iftar as a reaffirmation of shared commitment to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, reports UNB.