India, Bangladesh step ahead for inland water transport and coastal shipping agreements

The Dollar Business Bureau India and Bangladesh agreed upon the extension of Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) in line with the provision of the automatic renewal, as proposed under the India-Bangladesh bilateral trade. According to an official release by the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India, the Bangladeshi side agreed to revert back on the matter after having necessary consultations with the concerned authorities of Bangladesh government. The response by the Bangladeshi side was given in regard to the development of protocol route under regional International Development Agency (IDA) support of World Bank. In the Secretary-level talks held in New Delhi on Monday, it was also agreed that the regular movement of passenger and cruise vessels would be shared by India with Bangladesh through the diplomatic channel. The Bangladeshi side also agreed for a proposal on inclusion of Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (ICT) - Bangladesh’s first ICT, as the ‘Port of Call’ by the cargo vessel operator. Besides also accepting the inclusion of two other ICTs, the Bangladeshi side also requested the Indian side to declare Farakka and Bandel terminals on National Waterway (NW) – 1 also as ‘Port of Call’. On the commencement of the Coastal Shipping, a draft agreement was initiated by the two countries as both the sides agreed for the finalization of the Standard Operating procedures in about two months time. The Indian delegation led by Rajive Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, Government of India, also gave its commitment to the Bangladeshi delegation led by Shafiq Alam Mehdi, towards offering its services to the Bangladeshi personnel in Light House and Marine training. Both the sides exuded confidence that the deliberations would go a long way in the development of inland water transport and coastal shipping, thereby enhancing the trade and commerce between the two countries.    

This article was published on April 22, 2015 – 7:05 pm IST.