Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended the conclave. The ICC delegation, which was led by Chamber president. Vishambhar Saran , included M.K. Saharia, Chairman, ICC North-East Initiative, Rajeev Singh, Director General, ICC, and other senior members. The Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh, Rajeet Mitter, was also present at the meeting.
It was felt that the relations between India and Bangladesh, are headed for better times, and both the countries have entered a dynamic phase of mutual cooperation now, which has been triggered by the able and dynamic leaderships of the Prime Ministers of the two countries.
India- Bangladesh trade and commerce has witnessed significant growth in recent times - during the first nine months (April-December) of fiscal 2008-09, the Indo-Bangla trade was USD 2.26 billion, and there is a lot of scope for improving bilateral trade co-operation in the near future, the delegation expressed. The ICC Team felt that sectors like Energy, Power (Hydel and Thermal), Steel, Telecommunications, Healthcare, Fertilizer, Oil and Gas, Coal, Limestone and Forest-based Industries like Paper, Export of plantation crops, Spices, Fruits, Vegetables, Flowers, Herbs and Processed Foods are some of the areas which can drive a stronger bilateral economic relationship in the near future, and thus both the countries must put in concerted efforts in promoting two-way trade and economic exchanges in these areas/ sectors.
Also, it was felt that India's North-East can play a huge role in taking bilateral relations to the next level - the proximity of India's North-East with South Asian neighbours like Bangladesh is the key factor which can drive a closer bilateral co-operation in the near future. There is immense scope for investments and joint ventures in the North-East states, particularly in sectors like horticulture, rubber, bamboo, tourism, hydro-electricity, agro and food processing, handicrafts and handloom, etc. The Chamber assured Prime Minister Hasina that it will do its bit in enhancing trade and economic exchanges between the two neighbours in the near future.
The Trade and Investment Conclave, which was attended by over 200 delegates from Bangladesh, and around 70 delegates from India, was truly the first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at improving bilateral co-operation through enhanced trade and business exchanges between the North-East of India and Bangladesh.
The conclave, which was attended by the Chief Minister and two deputy chief Ministers of Meghalaya ; Industry and Power Minister of Assam ; Commerce and Industry Minister of Mizoram and Commerce and Industry Minister of Tripura, among other government and Industry leaders from both the countries , had dedicated sessions on exploring trade and investment opportunities between Bangladesh and the North-Eastern states of Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram.
The key sectors in focus included energy, infrastructure, transport and trade, agro-processing and tourism, among others.