Industry body to invest $5 bn in Bangladesh

October 5th, 2009 Belonia (Tripura)/FENI - Indian and Bangladeshi officials attended the inauguration of the new land custom station at India-Bangladesh border to give fillip to bilateral trade. The custom station situated in Muhurighat under Belonia subdivision in Tripura connects the state with Feni Land Port in Bangladesh.

October 1st, 2009 DHAKA - The debate over providing access to India to help reach its northeast region has intensified in Bangladesh as the South Asian neighbours prepare for a summit level meeting between their leaders this month. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni's talks with the Indian leadership last month have paved the ground for the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, likely later this month, reported the New Age newspaper.

September 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government Thursday gave its approval for constituting a joint venture company, Invest India, to promote the country as an investment destination for foreign companies. The proposed company will be a joint venture between the government of India, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the state governments, an official statement said.

August 25th, 2009 Bangladesh awards gas exploration rightsDHAKA, Bangladesh — Bangladesh has awarded three offshore blocks to two global energy companies to explore for gas in the Bay of Bengal, a senior energy official said Tuesday. The U.S.-based ConocoPhillips and Ireland's Tullow Oil could start exploration work by early next year, said Mohammad Muqtadir Ali, chairman of the state-owned Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation, or Petrobangla.

July 20th, 2009 DHAKA - An Indian trade delegation visiting Dhaka has urged Bangladesh to take steps to boost bilateral trade ties between the two countries. The appeal came at a seminar on "Bangladesh-India Economic Relations" at Hotel Sonargaon in Dhaka, reports the Daily Star.

July 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India-Bangladesh bilateral trade can double by 2011, says the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), which has suggested a multi-pronged action agenda for creating a favourable investment climate. According to FICCI, India's trade with Bangladesh increased from $1 billion in 2001-02 to $3.17 billion in 2007-08, more than three folds, mainly on the back of a 79.4 percent increase in India's exports.

May 3rd, 2009 DHAKA - The US government believes that Islamist militancy is still a major concern in Bangladesh, the US ambassador in Dhaka said Sunday. 'We do have disturbing indications.

April 28th, 2009 AGARTALA - A ten-member business delegation comprising of members of India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) recently met here to discuss the possibilities to explore bilateral trade potential and industrial investment opportunities in the state. The delegation led by India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) President Abdul Matlub Ahmad met with business community of Tripura Industrial Development Corporation (TIDC), senior most officials and businessmen.

March 13th, 2009 COLOMBO - Express and logistics major DHL Thursday announced that it will invest $8 million in Sri Lanka over three years to help the island nation become a logistics hub in South Asia. Announcing a joint venture agreement with Capitol AEI Pvt Ltd, an exclusive agent for DHL Global Forwarding in Sri Lanka, the logistics company said the investments would 'go towards the joint venture, employee training, upgrading of information systems and introducing an enhanced range of services for businesses' in the country.

March 10th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan may play a shortened cricket series in Bangladesh later this season because of rescheduling problems. According to sources, there is a possibility that the one-day series between Pakistan and Bangladesh which was originally supposed to have five one-day internationals and two Twenty20s might be compressed to just three ODIs and a solitary T20 game.

February 18th, 2009 DHAKA - At least 100 people were missing Thursday morning when a trawler capsized on a river in Bangladesh's southern Barisal district, the police said. The accident took place some 169 km from the Bangladesh capital.

February 4th, 2009 DHAKA - Bangladesh's cabinet Thursday unanimously approved two trade deals that are expected to be signed during the visit of Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. At a special cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the agreements on development and protection of capital investment under bilateral arrangement were passed.

January 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India is ready to look at lowering further the number of items in the negative list for trade with least developed countries (LDCs) such as Bangladesh, a senior commerce ministry official said here Friday. 'We have already reduced the negative list from 765 to 480 items.

January 27th, 2009 AGARTALA - Bangladesh is keen to boost trade and commerce with northeastern India to narrow down its trade deficit with the country, an official said here Wednesday. 'Traders, industrialists and investors are really keen to boost trade and business activities with the northeast,' said Abdul Matlub Ahmad, president of the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI).

January 1st, 2009 DHAKA - Captains of Bangladesh's trade and industry have hailed Sheikh Hasina's poll victory this week and want her to promote private sector for more jobs and higher exports. Leaders of the country's chamber bodies and trade associations Thursday said in a joint statement that they were enthused by the Charter of Change - as she had called her poll manifesto last month - and want her to keep her promise of achieving a 'digital Bangladesh'.