Aizawl, May 10 : Mizoram industries minister S Hiato said here today that he hopes for closer trade ties with neighbouring Bangladesh.
Mr Hiato, who had just arrived from Bangladesh capital Dhaka where he attended a two-day Indo-Bangla Trade Fair 2011, told reporters here that during the trade fair, the Mizoram government and the Government of Bangladesh sought partnership in supplying Mizoram’s bamboo chips, ginger and turmeric.
With its vast bamboo resources, Mizoram could provide raw materials to paper mills in Syhlet and Chittagong.
Another strategy that is being followed is to set up a manufacturing hub in Mizoram to manufacture garment parts.
"Button-making, sleeves and such items will be made by girls in Mizoram which we will import duty free to Bangladesh and assemble them there," Hiato said.
The Mizoram government and the government of Bangladesh have drawn up a scheme under which, the Bangladesh ‘garment assembly’ unit will be eligible to send the readymade garments back to Mizoram for sale and distribution in the northeastern regions of India.
With this, Mizoram will help create job opportunities for its girls, and gradually help them develop skills that could be used to climb up the value chain in the future.
Mr Hiato urged the Bangladesh government to take necessary steps for bringing the Demagiri Land Port Custom House into operation.
"The opening of land custom at Demagiri would provide huge opportunities to North East states of India as well as Bangladesh for export and import of forest products and other goods," the minister added.
Inviting the Bangladeshi investors, S Hiato said Mizoram Government extends every possible co-operation to investors, interested to invest in the state.
Official sources here said today, the investors were interested in Hiato’s speeches.
State industries director R L Rinawma said at the trade fair, Mizoram was looking forward towards the deep seaport in Chittagong for establishing greater connectivity with the region. He also called upon the Bangladeshi investors to invest in oil and gas exploration in their state.
Mr Hiato said, in a follow-up to the trade fair, a North East Investment Meet would be held at Aizawl on May 25, to be organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce and its Bangladesh counterpart.
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