The Hindu Business Line : Freeing the Petrapole bottlenecks

An India-Bangladesh Ministerial-level visit to Petrapole-Benapole trade facilitation hub, the main trade route by road between the two countries, is likely to take place any time after mid-June. The objective of the visit will be to examine infrastructural and other bottlenecks impeding the growth of bilateral trade by the land route and the corrective steps needed.

Petrapole is the border point on the Indian side in West Bengal while Benapole is on the Bangladesh side. The two countries have also decided to examine non-tariff and other barriers and prepare a list of them. Bangladesh runs a huge trade deficit with India, estimated at close to $2 billion. While removal of barriers, both tariff and non-tariff, easier Customs procedure and improved infrastructural facilities, such as banking and port operations, will help achieve the objective, it is also felt that the trade deficit will drop substantially if Indian private sector investments happen in a big way a Bangladesh. It may be noted that the Tatas' $3 billion worth of investment proposals are awaiting Dhaka's approval.

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