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Industrial
sector would face serious setback to India |
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News |
April 20, 2000
Dhaka,
Apr 19 (UNB) – A leading chamber today cautioned the government that the
industrial sector would face a serious setback by 2005 if the country’s
products do not get free access to India. “India
is a big market for consumer items. If we can’t enter there, no
sustainable export growth will take place,” Latifur Rahman, president of
Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), told a meeting of
the Export Promotion Council that was presided over by Commerce Minister
Abdul Jalil. Rahman
said multinational companies would choose India for investment instead of
Bangladesh as they could enjoy a huge market there compared to a small one
here. India
has protected her market by imposing direct and indirect barriers to
outside products. Citing an example he said Rahimafroz used to export a
large quantity battery to India. But the buyers now completely stopped
lifting battery from here as they were subjected to harassment by the
Indian authorities. On
the other hand, Indian manufacturers can easily enter the markets of all
her neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh. This gives an additional
advantage to the multinational companies and encouraged for investment
there, he added. “There
would hardly be any industry in Bangladesh if we don’t get free access
to the Indian market for next 4-5 years…But, I don’t see any effective
mechanism in the government for this,” Rahman said. Referring
to the 25 Bangladeshi items that India agreed to give free access he said,
”We have not seen any actual progress.” He
listed readymade garments, leather and leather goods, agriculture
products, which can easily compete in the Indian market provided those
were given free access.
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