Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka later in the month, India and Bangladesh decided to expedite the feasibility study on the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Senior government officials from both sides have evinced interest in boosting connectivity and trade between the two neighbours.

A Commerce Secretary level meeting on this issue was held between the two countries in Dhaka on Monday. The Bangladesh delegation was led by Md Jafar Uddin while the Indian delegation was led by Commerce secretary Anup Wadhawan, a statement released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said.

"Extensive discussions were held on a variety of issues of mutual interest such as streamlining Certificate of Origin procedures, regional connectivity initiatives, anti-dumping duty on Jute products, harmonization of standards, removal of port restrictions, trade infrastructure-related issues, India-Bangladesh CEOs' Forum, sharing of trade data, up-gradation of border trading infrastructure. Both sides decided to expeditiously move forward on the feasibility study on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)," the statement read.

Earlier, a meeting of the Joint Working Groups (JWG) on Trade between the Commerce Ministries of both the countries was held on 16-17 February through a video conference. The meeting had held a detailed technical discussion on issues of mutual interest in trade and commerce.