[Assam] Bangla okays pact to boost trade with India-AT

[Manoj Das]

Bangla okays pact to boost trade with India
 DHAKA, Feb 5 – The new government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today
approved a proposed bilateral investment development and protection
agreement and decided to renew a 1980 trade agreement with India, apparently
paving ways for signing a transit deal with the neighbour. A cabinet meeting
with Hasina in the chair approved the deals, which officials said could be
signed during the visit of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee next
week.

The scheduled two-day visit of Mukherjee could be

reduced to a one-day tour in view of his extra responsibilities because of
the ailment of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, diplomatic and foreign
ministry sources said here.

"The government is ready to sign more such agreements in the interests of
the country and people's welfare," Hasina briefly told reporters after the
meeting.

The joint trade and investment agreement would allow businessmen from the
two countries to invest in businesses on both sides of the border. – PTI