Bangladesh, Bhutan emphasise cooperation in trade and energy sectors

Bangladesh and Bhutan have stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in the trade and energy sectors. Bhutanese Ambassador to Dhaka Dasho Karma Hamu Dorji paid a courtesy call on Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir at the Secretariat on Tuesday, where they held discussions on the matter.

During the meeting, they discussed expanding bilateral trade and investment as well as strengthening regional cooperation. The two sides also emphasized potential joint ventures in renewable energy, particularly in the solar and hydropower sectors.

The Commerce Minister said that although the combined GDP of South Asian countries is about US$ 59 trillion, mutual trade is only close to 1 percent, which is very low compared to the potential. In this situation, strengthening trade relations between neighboring countries is essential.

He said that Bangladesh wants to utilize regional potential by building effective economic partnerships with neighboring countries. He stressed on increasing cooperation in the energy sector and said that setting up short-distance hydropower plants in border areas could be mutually beneficial.

Congratulating Bhutan's ambassador Khandaker Abdul Muktadir on being appointed as the Minister of Commerce, he said that the bilateral trade relations between Bangladesh and Bhutan are quite close. They are interested in strengthening this relationship further.

He said that the distance between Bhutan and Bangladesh from the Burimari border is about 100 kilometers. Being nearby countries, trade and investment between the two countries is convenient and profitable.