Daijiworld Media Network - Dhaka

Dhaka, Aug 19: Bangladesh has called for faster issuance of business visas for its nationals travelling to India and urged greater ease of doing business as it seeks to build an economic partnership with New Delhi that is “equally beneficial” to both countries.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said Bangladesh wanted businesses and private-sector representatives from the two countries to communicate more frequently, the Dhaka Tribune reported on Wednesday.

“Business visas for Bangladeshis should be issued more quickly so that businesspeople can travel to India more frequently,” Islam said at a reception in Dhaka on Tuesday night.

She also called for measures to address non-tariff barriers, standards and testing-related difficulties, procedural delays and infrastructure constraints affecting the smooth movement of goods and services between the two countries.

Islam said Bangladesh wanted “more vibrant trade, investment and communication” with India and that greater predictability and ease of doing business would benefit companies on both sides.

She said Dhaka wanted an economic partnership with New Delhi that was “equally beneficial and brings tangible changes” to the lives of people.

“I am confident that the business communities of our two countries have both the vision and the capacity to make this happen. We can collectively identify practical solutions to the challenges,” she said.

Islam was speaking at a reception hosted by the Indian High Commission in honour of leading Bangladeshi business leaders and a delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The minister described India as a major trading partner of Bangladesh and said bilateral trade had grown significantly over the years. However, she acknowledged that trade remained “structurally imbalanced and much lower than its actual potential”.

She said the focus should be on expanding the overall economic partnership, addressing existing challenges and creating greater opportunities for trade, business and investment in both countries.

Islam also invited greater Indian investment in Bangladesh, highlighting the country's large domestic market, industrial workforce, competitive production capabilities and proximity to regional markets.

“Our economic zones provide Indian companies with opportunities to establish dedicated manufacturing and export facilities. We would particularly welcome investments that bring technology, integrate local suppliers, and create employment,” she said.

Such investments, she added, could help connect Bangladeshi products with regional and global value chains.

The minister also suggested that Indian companies with established distribution networks could increase sourcing from Bangladesh in sectors where the country's industries are already competitive.

These sectors include ready-made garments, textiles, jute and jute products, leather and footwear, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing, ceramics, plastics and light engineering.

Bangladesh is India's largest trading partner in South Asia, while India is among the largest export destinations in Asia for Bangladeshi products. As of February 2025-26, bilateral trade between the two countries stood at approximately USD 11.35 billion.

Under the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), India provides duty-free and quota-free market access for almost all Bangladeshi products.

Islam's remarks come amid Dhaka's push to expand trade and investment ties with New Delhi, with Bangladesh seeking to address existing trade barriers and attract greater Indian investment while expanding its integration into regional and global supply chains.