From Manash Pratim Bhuyan 
Dhaka

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met Presidents of leading chambers of commerce and industry of Bangladesh and discussed a range of issues relating to trade and enhancing economic engagement.

The business heads complimented the decisions pertaining to setting up of SEZ and allowing LIC to start operations in the country.

The delegation also talked about Bangladesh’s trade imbalance with India and requested Modi to bridge the gap.

“Strengthening business links. PM @narendramodi meets Presidents of leading Chambers of Commerce & Industry,” Vikas Swarup, spokesperson of the external affairs ministry, tweeted earlier.

On Saturday, the Prime Minister had “assured” his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina of doing “everything we can to bridge the deficit.” 

Modi had said he was “conscious of the huge trade imbalance, despite duty free and quota free access to Bangladesh in India on all but 25 items”.

With an aim to boost bilateral trade, Bangladesh on Saturday offered to establish Special Economic Zones for Indian companies besides allowing Life Insurance Corporation to start operation in the country.

As per the MoU on the economic zone, Bangladesh will offer SEZs to Indian companies in Mongla and Bheramara.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s talks with his counterpart Sheikh Hasina, both sides signed a number of pacts to spur economic engagement and enhance connectivity so that North East region could be linked to South Asian counties.

PTI