Burma-Bangla foreign ministers talks in Dhaka on anvil

by Siddique Islam
Tuesday, 15 December 2009 12:48

Dhaka (Mizzima) - Foreign minister-level talks between Burma and Bangladesh over two days is to begin in Dhaka on December 29 on issues ranging from trade to energy cooperation.

“Around 30 issues have been identified initially for the talks,” a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) official told Mizzima in the capital, Dhaka on Monday, adding that a five-member Burmese delegation, led by its foreign secretary, will participate.

Establishing a direct air route between Dhaka and Rangoon, eliminating problems relating to business visa, introducing direct letters of credit (L/C), and reducing bilateral trade gap are some of the major issues on the agenda at the meeting, the (MOFA) officials added.

Another area of discussion will be the possibility of establishing a hydroelectric plant in Burma, the officials said.

In the last Bangladesh-Burma joint trade council meeting, Dhaka requested Rangoon to consider setting up of a hydroelectric power plant in Arakan State under a joint venture. The Burmese side agreed to discuss the matter in the ensuing foreign secretary level meeting.

Dhaka is expected to attach the highest importance to the issue of hydropower plant as the country is in dire need of electricity.

The issue of importing gas from Burma to Bangladesh has been included in the agenda. However, details of the gas-import issue are not available.

Bilateral trade between the two neighbouring countries has been taking place under the General Trade Agreement and Border Trade Agreement signed in 1973 and 1994 respectively.

The volume of bilateral trade between the two countries has been quite ‘insignificant’ for years because of lack of proper initiatives. The balance of trade, according to trade officials, has remained in favour of Burma over the past 13 years.

However, a review of bilateral trade between the two countries shows that the trade balance was in favour of Bangladesh from 1991-92 to 1995-96. But in 1996-97 it tilted in favour of Burma.

Dhaka exported goods and commodities worth only US$9.17 million to Rangoon in 2008-09 while its imports during the period stood at $66.49 million, the data revealed.

Bangladesh mainly exports pharmaceutical products, leather, woven garments and other manufactured goods to Burma and imports wooden articles, vegetable products, processed food and fish.