The government has taken an initiative to increase bilateral trade with Indonesia and attract Indonesian investors to various sectors of Bangladesh, officials said.
As part of the move, the commerce ministry asked the departments concerned and the country's apex trade body to submit their recommendations in order to help prepare an action plan in this regard.
"We sought recommendations from the Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh Tariff Commission and the FBCCI. We have also received some recommendations," said a joint secretary at the commerce ministry who is involved in the process.
After getting suggestions from all of them, the commerce ministry will prepare a summary of the recommendations and then sit with the stakeholders to finalise the action plan, he told the FE.
"We will offer specific proposals to Indonesian government. We will invite government delegations to visit Bangladesh to explore the investment and trade opportunities," he added.
The business community of the country suggested arranging regular exchange of trade delegations between the two countries both at private and government levels.
A leader of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) said that there is a huge potential for boosting trade with Indonesia.
At present, there is no direct air connectivity between Dhaka and Jakarta. Establishing such connectivity would help increase bilateral trade and investment significantly, he said.
In the fiscal year 2016-17, Bangladesh exported goods worth US$46.39 million to Indonesia, while the import figure was $1107.10 million, according to the commerce ministry.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com