Some former Bangladeshi diplomats yesterday urged the Indonesian government to give some Bangladeshi products duty-free access to the Southeast Asian country.
They also stressed the need for direct air and shipping services between the two countries to boost trade and commerce.
The former envoys spoke on “Indonesia-Bangladesh: forging ahead to the future” organised by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in the capital.
Scope is there to improve the export and import relations between the two, especially in shipping, agriculture, tourism and electronics, said Humayun Akter Kamal, a former ambassador.
Currently, Bangladesh exports pharmaceutical and jute products to Indonesia and imports some electronic goods.
Economies of the two countries will be stronger if Indonesia gives trade access to Bangladesh, said another former ambassador, Mohsin Ali Khan.
“Our traders can draw the attention of their Indonesian counterparts to invest in the energy sector of Bangladesh,” said Nasim Ferdous, who was the Bangladeshi ambassador to Indonesia from 2002 to 2006.
Indonesia should ease their business policies so the traders of the two countries can enjoy equal access to improve the trade relations, said Rashed Maksud Khan, a Bangladeshi trader who was present at the discussion.
Indonesian Ambassador Iwan Wiranata Atmadja responded positively to the call of the former envoys and assured them of taking steps to bring trade balance.
The 16th largest economy in the world, Indonesia is ready to develop trade and bilateral relations in education, food security and energy sustainability, Atmadja said.
Both the mid-income countries have the potential to expand their reach as emerging markets, he said.
Munshi Faiz Ahmad, chairman of BIISS, presided over the discussion while Major General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, director general, also spoke.