India calls Bangladesh most important economic and largest trade partner in South Asia

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday called Banglesh a “central pillar” of India’s Neighbourhood First policy and stated that Dhaka is New Delhi’s largest tre partner in South Asia. While speaking at a special Ministry of External Affairs briefing, Shringla said that India is Banglesh's most important economic partner as well as  largest tre partner. Foreign Secretary went on to say that bilateral tre between two nations grew at an unprecedented rate of 14% during COVID-19 pandemic.    

"Banglesh is a central pillar of our Neighbourhood First policy. It is also relationship where this policy intersects element of our Act East policy. India today, is Banglesh's most important economic partner and Banglesh is India's largest tre partner in South Asia. India is second-largest tre partner of Banglesh," Harsh Vardhan Shringla said.

Recalling PM Narendra Modi’s visit to neighbouring country earlier this year, Shringla said that Banglesh is only country that is visited by PM Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and EAM S Jaishankar. He ded that two nations jointly even commenced Maitree Diwas on December 6, which is jointly celebrated with New Delhi and Dhaka and also in capitals all over world. “Both Prime Ministers issued a special message on this occasion,” Shringla said. 

“In March, our Prime Minister paid a State visit to Banglesh to join Triveni of celebration. It is measure of importance that we accord to our relations with Banglesh that it is destination of first post-pandemic visits both President and Prime Minister. It is also only country visited by PM, President and Foreign Minister in short period of time in recent past,” he said. 

India-Banglesh 'better connected than ever'

Furr, Foreign Secretary informed that despite pandemic, bilateral tre was at an unprecedented rate of 14% from USD 9.46 billion in 2019 to USD 10.78 billion in 2021. Shringla stated that Banglesh is also “one of our most important" development partners both in terms of value and range of cooperation. “We extend our total global development assistance under lines of credit to Banglesh,” he ded.  

ditionally, Indian minister said that two countries have been extending various projects to bring direct benefits to local community. India and Banglesh are “better connected than ever before”. Ro, rail, air, river and coastal connectivity is increasing and multi-model transports that utilise more than one of se channels is today very much possible, he said. Moreover, Shringla ded that joint energy space is steily emerging, electricity grids are interconnected from east and west with more than 1160 megawatts of power way across from India and Banglesh. 

Now, to furr enhance ties between two neighbouring nations, President Ram Nath Kovind has embarked on a three-day State visit to Banglesh starting from today. According to ANI, visit is in context of 50th Victory Day celebrations in Dhaka for which Banglesh President Abdul Hamid invited Kovind in a bid to represent India as a guest of honour. 

(With inputs from ANI)