The feasibility and potential of Coastal Shipping between India and Bangladesh was discussed In the Shipping Secretary-level talks held on 2nd – 3rd July, 2012 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Subsequently, it was also discussed in the Directors General (Shipping) level talks held on 26th September, 2012 at Visakhapatnam, India and on 14-15 January, 2013 at Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

This information was given by the Minister of State of Commerce & Industry, D Purandeswari in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

The issue was again discussed in the recent Shipping Secretary-level talks held on 27th February, 2013 in New Delhi, India.

India has requested for extending the benefit of certification of GSP on the fabrics and other inputs imported from India towards GSP benefits from European Union (EU) under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) cumulation. Bangladesh Government has not accepted Indian request.

India reduced its Sensitive List for the Least Developed Countries (including Bangladesh) under the South Asian Free Trade Area Agreement (SAFTA) from 480 tariff lines to just 25 tariff lines.