Guwahati: In October 2022, the Indo-Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industries (Guwahati Chapter) (IBCCI) was established, garnering recognition as a pivotal platform for fostering robust business relations between India and Bangladesh.

IBCCI seeks to explore and capitalize on numerous opportunities to promote bilateral trade between the two neighboring nations, employing a diverse range of mechanisms.

To know more about IBCCI plans, Business Northeast interviewed the President of IBCCI, Mr. Aminur Rashid Choudhury Shamim (Guwahati Chapter), shedding light on business opportunities of Indo-Bangla connections and delving into the challenges faced in trade and commerce initiatives.

Excerpts of the interview are as under:-

BNE: What are the goals and objective of Indo-Bangla Chamber of Commerce so far as Indo Bangladesh trade is concerned under your leadership?

President: It is started in last October (2022). It is hardly six months. Within these six months we conducted two meetings of IBCCI in Guwahati. One seven-member delegation had been to Dhaka to participate in the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Summit that was held in last March 2023. So, we are doing our best to keep the relationship between India and Bangladesh good. For business opportunities, new entrepreneurs are coming from Bangladesh to India. We are introducing them to India for business development. Recently, during the opening of the Dawki port the honourable Indian State Home Minister visited Dawki along with Bangladesh Landport Chairman and Indian Ambassador to Dhaka, Bangladesh, Assistant High Commissioner of India, Sylhet and Landport Chairman of India. Exporters from Bangladesh and India were present in the meeting.
Another programme was held in the Karimganj district where there was meeting of exporter importer from Sutarkandi port. The Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Guwahati was also present. So the main objective of Indo Bangla Chamber of Commerce is to focus on how one can find ways to find opportunities of trade and commerce between India and Bangladesh.

BNE: What are the things Indo Bangla Chamber of Commerce is doing to promote bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh?

President: There are certain monetary barrier that is present in both India and Bangladesh. For example, there is Sutarkandi port in Karimganj and Sheola port in Bangladesh, the road communication of Bangladesh part is very bad. The Indian national passport holder who visits Bangladesh need to pay travel tax of Rs.500 at Sheola port while returning. That they are required to pay to the bank. There is no facility to pay tax at the port. If somebody comes to Dhaka, say after some meeting directly or to other parts of Bangladesh, he cannot cross border directly from the port. If he reaches on Friday then he will be required to stay in hotel for two days. Only on Sunday he/she can pay the travel tax to the bank. These issues are raised in both countries. The Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh is trying to solve the issue as informed to me. Secondly, the Indo-Bangla Chamber of Commerce is also putting pressure on the renewal of Guwahati Dhaka flight communication. The Honourable Minister of State of Assam for Northeast Affairs, Chandramohan Patowary assured us that very soon this will be in operation. There are many such things that are happening.
Again, the exporters from India are paid through Letter of Credit (LC) from Bangladesh. But India is doing business with Bangladesh through Remittance. So, these issues are raised by Indo-Bangla Chamber of Commerce with Bangladesh authorities.
Again, recently, the Chittagong port is opened for all. Now, rail link will start soon as well. The Karimganj Mahisasan rail link that was operational during the British era is reopening soon. So, there are many issues that Indo Bangla Chamber of Commerce is raising in both side. Through your medium I would like to inform all the business community who wants to do business with Bangladesh to contact us. We will communicate them with the appropriate counterpart so that they do business easily.

BNE: What are the current challenges and opportunities in Indo Bangladesh trade and how the Indo Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce is addressing the same?

President: See, at present the relationship between India and Bangladesh is very good. That is the reason we are being benefitted. Recently, at the G20 meeting held in Nagaland a large team from Bangladesh reached Nagaland. They had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nagaland to do business with the products like Bamboo, spices, stones and hospitality with Business Association of Nagas. So, we are forwarding whatever opportunities are coming. Our only job is to provide business opportunities to them who approach us. We are here to help them for doing business in both countries.

BNE: Can you share with us some success stories of Business in the Indo Bangla trade?

President: Yes, we are here since six months. Within this six months, the President of Indo Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries in Dhaka Abdul Matlub Sir had brought an 11-member delegation from Bangladesh to Nagaland during the G20 meeting. So, both Guwahati chapter and Bangladesh chapter of the Indo Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industries is doing wonderful job to promote business in both countries.

BNE: How does the Indo Bangla Chambers of Commerce support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in accessing cross-border business opportunities?

President: Of course, if you see products like ginger, fresh fruits as some of the many things that can be sent to Bangladesh from the Northeast. If entrepreneurs come to us in need of exporting their products to Bangladesh or in need of importer in Bangladesh then we are here to help them, always.

BNE: How does the chamber engage with government agencies and policymakers to advocate for favourable business conditions and policy reforms that benefit Indo-Bangladesh trade?

President: Our office is only of six months now. We are communicating with the state government first. The central government is asking for opportunities to guide us as to what we can inform to Bangladesh government on business. We are about to write a letter to them. We will fix a meeting with the Department of Commerce and Industry of the central government and state government in future. After that whatever is required we will do.

BNE: How does the Indo-Bangla Chambers of Commerce facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building for its members and businesses interested in the Indo-Bangladesh trade sector?

President: We didn’t do anything on knowledge building till now. We are working on the issues of business development. The business meet of exporters and importer in Karimganj we invited the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce through Bangladesh Ambassador Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh Ruhul Amin. We wanted to know what Bangladesh want to import from us and what we want to export to Bangladesh through a meeting to be held. During the Dawki meeting held recently, a similar discussion was done.

BNE: What are the future goals of Indo Bangla Chamber of Commerce?

President: It’s very bright. We did very well in the six months. Seven members of Indo Bangla Chamber of Commerce and Industries attended in the FBCCI summit. The honourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh was present at the summit. Another meeting was held at the same time with the Indian High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Dhaka. They guide us sometimes too. If any business house wants to attend a summit from Bangladesh then we are here to help them out. The Indo Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry is looking forward in the context of improving the relationship between the two countries in the upcoming days of business.

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