Tofail stresses value of waterways to boost Indo-Bangla trade

Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed said yesterday that waterway transport between Bangladesh and India was 10 times more cost-effective than roadways and five times cheaper than railways.
The minister said this at a programme—‘Enhancing Indo-Bangla waterways connectivity’—organised by the India-Bangladesh Chamber and Commerce Industry (IBCCI) at a city hotel. 
He was the event’s chief guest.
Describing India as Bangladesh’s trusted friend, Tofail Ahmed said: “To enhance India-Bangladesh waterway connectivity, both the countries have signed several deals that include a waterway connectivity protocol and coastal shipping agreement.”
“We are working on developing the waterway connectivity for easy trade. We have also highlighted roadway connectivity in the BBIN agreement,” he added.
Speaking at the event, Indian high commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla said: “We have made some significant developments to make use of waterway connectivity for trade, especially the use of coastal ships under the coastal shipping agreement.”
He said it was important to develop the Pangoan ICT terminal near Dhaka, Ashuganj and Godagari river ports for trade with India.
“The Indian government has signed an agreement for investing in the Ashuganj river port, but the process is being delayed due to problems concerning land acquisition,” he added.
Taskin Ahmed, president of the IBCCI, said that under Article 5 of the Trade Agreement between Bangladesh and India, the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT), signed on November 1, 1972, came into force from the day of its signing.
He also said the understanding worked without a hitch after the signing of the first protocol in 1972. But from 1986, the protocols were for two years, requiring frequent renewals. “For some unforeseen reasons, a fresh protocol could not be signed or renewed at times,” he added. 
He said from 1972, vessel movement was restricted to only those of public sector companies—Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) and Central India Water Transport Corporation (CIWTC). The private sector of Bangladesh was not keen to take part under the protocol. “In India, particularly in West Bengal and Assam, private sector participation in the PIWTT sub-sector is yet to emerge. But, from 2000, Bangladesh’s private sector has come forward to carry goods under the protocol, and Bangladeshi vessels have since outnumbered those of India,” he added.
Taskin Ahmed said it appears that the growth of inter-country cargo movement is becoming attractive. The total tonnage was more than 19 lakh in 2013-2014, against about 9 lakh in 2006-2007.
The IBCCI president said there was a compelling need for inland navigation for regional development. “No major continent-sized region of the world, such as South Asia, has developed economically without developing transportation by inland waterways.”

 

Tofail stresses value of waterways to boost Indo-Bangla trade

Commerce minister Tofail Ahmed said yesterday that waterway transport between Bangladesh and India was 10 times more cost-effective than roadways and five times cheaper than railways. The minister said this at a programmeEnhancing Indo-Bangla waterways connectivityorganised by the India-Bangladesh Chamber and Commerce Industry (IBCCI) at a city hotel. He was the events chief guest. Describing India as Bangladeshs trusted friend, Tofail Ahmed said: To enhance India-Bangladesh waterway connectivity, both the countries have signed several deals that include a waterway connectivity protocol and coastal shipping agreement. We are working on developing the waterway connectivity for easy trade. We have also highlighted roadway connectivity in the BBIN agreement, he added. Speaking at the event, Indian high commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla said: We have made some significant developments to make use of waterway connectivity for trade, especially the use of coastal ships under the coastal shipping agreement. He said it was important to develop the Pangoan ICT terminal near Dhaka, Ashuganj and Godagari river ports for trade with India. The Indian government has signed an agreement for investing in the Ashuganj river port, but the process is being delayed due to problems concerning land acquisition, he added. Taskin Ahmed, president of the IBCCI, said that under Article 5 of the Trade Agreement between Bangladesh and India, the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT), signed on November 1, 1972, came into force from the day of its signing. He also said the understanding worked without a hitch after the signing of the first protocol in 1972. But from 1986, the protocols were for two years, requiring frequent renewals. For some unforeseen reasons, a fresh protocol could not be signed or renewed at times, he added. He said from 1972, vessel movement was restricted to only those of public sector companiesBangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) and Central India Water Transport Corporation (CIWTC). The private sector of Bangladesh was not keen to take part under the protocol. In India, particularly in West Bengal and Assam, private sector participation in the PIWTT sub-sector is yet to emerge. But, from 2000, Bangladeshs private sector has come forward to carry goods under the protocol, and Bangladeshi vessels have since outnumbered those of India, he added. Taskin Ahmed said it appears that the growth of inter-country cargo movement is becoming attractive. The total tonnage was more than 19 lakh in 2013-2014, against about 9 lakh in 2006-2007. The IBCCI president said there was a compelling need for inland navigation for regional development. No major continent-sized region of the world, such as South Asia, has developed economically without developing transportation by inland waterways.