Burma and Bangladesh Seek to Triple Trade with Deal
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Bangladesh and Burma signed a deal on Tuesday to avoid double taxation, seeking to almost triple the trade volume between the two neighbors to half a billion dollars.
The agreement was signed at the end of a bilateral dialogue led by Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed and Burma's visiting Senior Vice-General Maung Aye at the chief adviser's office in Dhaka.
"We have signed an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation to boost trade between the two friendly neighbor's," Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury told reporters at a press conference at the chief adviser's office after the talks. He said the present bilateral trade volume stood at $140 million.
"We are seeking to increase the trade volume to $500 million. We hope bilateral trade will increase significantly after General Maung Aye's Bangladesh visit," said Iftekhar.
Burma has also agreed in principle to export up to 100,000 tons of rice to Bangladesh on a regular basis.
The visiting deputy head of the Burmese military junta has praised Bangladesh's "Look East" policy, as well as the caretaker government's reform measures.
On Monday evening, Bangladesh Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed hosted a banquet for Maung Aye at Hotel Sonargaon.
During the banquet, General Maung Aye said his visit would strengthen relations between the two governments and armed forces.
The Bangladesh chief adviser said during his banquet speech that the general's visit would take Bangladesh-Myanmar relations further forward and suggested "better air and shipping connectivity" with Yangon.
"During our brief visit, we witnessed the impressive developments taking place in Bangladesh," said General Maung Aye, who was accompanied by cabinet ministers and chiefs of the air and navy forces as part of a 55-strong entourage.
"We have also noted with interest the reform measures being undertaken by your government for the best interest of the country," General Maung Aye said during his speech.
He further added that his country has always maintained very friendly relations with Bangladesh. "As my delegation includes high-ranking officials from our armed forces, I am confident that our present visit would further consolidate the friendly relations between the two governments and between the two armed forces," he said.
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