Date:10/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/04/10/stories/2006041001030603.htm

Back Pak-Bangladesh trade hurdles

High shipping freight is believed to be a major hurdle to the promotion of trade between Bangladesh and Pakistan. As a result, Bangladesh is forced to depend more on India and other countries in the region, according to a Bangladeshi trade delegation that visited Pakistan recently. Bangladesh imports fresh fruits and vegetables from Pakistan and is keen to buy rice, spices, packaged food, cotton and other products but cannot because of high shipping freight. There is no direct shipping service between the two countries. The services are either though Colombo or Singapore. Transshipment adds to the cost. On the other hand, there is a distinct advantage in importing from India, Nepal and Bhutan through the land routes. The members of the visiting delegation and their counterparts in Pakistan therefore emphasized the need for joint shipping services between Karachi with Chittagong.

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