Bangladesh seeks FTA with Sri Lanka before end of 2018

by Sivakami
Sep 9, 2017

Bangladesh's commerce minister called for a swift Free Trade Agreement with Sri Lanka by the end of next year. 

“Let us sign before end-2018, it is time that we focus on much broader trade levels,” Bangladesh's minister, Tofail Ahmed was quoted by LBO as saying in Colombo recently. 

“Bilateral trade has been on the increase but the volumes are not so great, we can do better.”

Responding to his comments, Sri Lanka's minister of trade and commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen said “I too agree that being in the South Asian region, our present trade levels do not reflect maximum outcomes.” 

“We are working for the third Joint Working Group session between both countries to be held in Colombo any-time before the end of this year.”

Sri Lanka is currently in talks with several countries over possible Free Trade Agreements, including India, China and Singapore.

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