Published in: The Daily Star, Oct 3, 2009

The Bhutanese economic affairs minister said his country is keen to make a free trade agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh to boost economic relation between the two countries,
Lynopo Khandu Wang-chuk said this while speaking at a meeting with the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the DCCI auditorium in the capital yesterday.
Bhutan has proposed a free trade agreement with Bangladesh and the Bangladesh government also showed a positive attitude. He also said that Bhutan has undertaken a plan to produce 10,000 MW of hydroelectricity in the next 12 years and sought investment from Bangladesh in this regard, he added.
Speaking at the meeting, Zafar Osman, the DCCI president, said Bhutan might consider exporting hydropower to Bangladesh as the country has vast potential of generating hydroelectricity.
“Bhutan can import world standard pharmaceuticals and ceramic products from Bangladesh to increase the existing trade volume,” he added.
Regarding the foreign direct investment in Bhutan, the mnister said they are revising the current FDI policy and hope that it would be finalised in a couple of months.
He also offered a joint collaboration tourism system between Bhutan and Bangladesh.
“Under this system, we will encourage tourists in Bhutan to visit Bangladesh and the same will be done from Bangladesh,” he said.
Wangchuk urged the private sector from both countries to come forward to increase the trade volume between the two countries. In fiscal 2007-08, Bangladesh imported goods worth $13.73 million from Bhutan while its exports to Bhutan amounted to only $1.35 million.
BSS adds: In a meeting with the high-powered Bhutanese delegation yesterday, the leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) stressed the need for accelerating the connectivity between Bangladesh and Bhutan.
Terming Bhutan as a promising trade partner, they urged the Bhutanese business leaders to come forward to solve the existing problems in enhancing bilateral trade.
FBCCI President Annisul Huq chaired the meeting.
Huq briefed the Bhutanese team on the present economic situation in Bangladesh and the investment opportunity available here.
The visit of this high-powered delegation will bring a fresh blood in bilateral trade and economic cooperation, hoped the FBCCI chief.
The visiting minister also expressed his interest for working on better connectivity between Bangladesh and Bhutan
He said that Bhutan did not impose any duty on Bangladeshi products to Bhutan. He requested Bangladesh to ease the duty structure for Bhutanese products exporting to Bangladesh.
Bhutanese Ambassador in Dhaka Bap Kesang, officials of Bhutan Finance Ministry, leaders of Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the representatives of tourism sector of Bhutan were also present at the meeting.