STAFF REPORTER
Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed has said there is no possibility to probe the alleged anti-dumping on jute goods export to India as Bangladesh provides cash incentive to jute traders.“For a long time we have been providing cash incentives for the jute traders. We have no plan to takeover the Indian market by reducing the jute prices,” Tofail told reporters after a meeting with the new Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh of Indian High, Harsh Vardhan Shringla at the secretariat yesterday.
He also said, India will understand the matter as there is no such type of position on each others side to make anti dumping situation on jute export.
We provide cash incentive to the jute traders to encourage them, even India also do the same for their traders.
Additional secretary of the commerce ministry Monoj Kumar Roy went to Delhi to discuss the matter and made the Indian side understand it, he said.
Is there any benefit for the businessmen to make anti-dumping situation reducing price, Tofail asked.
“It will be proven that there is nothing to make anti dumping situation,” he added.
If there will be any non tariff barriers-we will resolve the issue through discussion in future, he added.
Commerce minister said, “both of us are interested to set up more border hats. West Bengal, Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura and Mizoram want to set up more border hats.”
“We have discussed about it to implement this initiative as soon as possible. I have already discussed with India Industries and Commerce ministers regarding the issue,” he noted.
India is giving duty free access for all products except liquor and tobacco products, commerce minister said.
He said the export volume to India is increasing gradually and achieved 12 per cent growth in last year.
Commerce minister said in FY Bangladesh exported $727.16 million to India while India exported $5,811.90 million to Bangladesh.
About the trade gap between two countries he said it is not a problem as Bangladesh import more products like yarn, fabric, onion etc from India due to meet the need.
He also said the trade gap with China is higher compared to India and Bangladesh imports at least $ 7 billion worth of goods annually.
He also expects the export to India will increase in future like the ready made garment (RMG) products.
Harsh Vardhan Shringla said India is giving more important to investment in Bangladesh.
“India companies are willing to invest large in Bangladesh particularly in power sector and energy, hospital, port and infrastructure in the collaboration of Bangladeshi industrialists,” he said.
Regarding the issue of jute export from Bangladesh to India, he said it will be resolved easily through discussion as its not a big problem.
