India and Bangladesh to soon commence CEPA, claims Indian envoy

NEW DELHI : Recently, High Commissioner Pranay Verma affirmed upcoming negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Bangladesh.

This is as per media reports, which added he also emphasised the significance of multimodal connectivity, particularly with Bangladesh viewing India as its largest export destination in Asia.

Verma’s remarks followed the inauguration of the Sultanganj port by Shipping Minister Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, linking Rajshahi in Bangladesh with Murshidabad in India even as he stressed the importance of efficient multimodal connectivity, including road, rail, inland waterways, and coastal shipping, in fostering bilateral cooperation.

The inauguration marked the first of five trial cargo vessel movements between Maia Port in India and Sultanganj, Godagari Port in Bangladesh, along the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route 5 and 6.

This route holds significant potential for cargo movement and is expected to invigorate inland waterways ecosystems in both countries.

Verma highlighted the reopening of the Maia-Sultanganj river route as a step towards benefiting local and national economies and enhancing sub-regional cooperation.

He noted India’s status as Bangladesh’s largest export destination in Asia and expressed hope that improved connectivity and measures like trade in Indian Rupee would further boost Bangladeshi exports to India.