Date:21/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/21/stories/2006062108981800.htm

Business

Testing lab for hilsa fish

Staff Reporter

KOLKATA: The Union Government will set up a testing facility at Petrapole on the Indo-Bangladesh border for hilsa fish imported from Bangladesh, Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, said here on Tuesday.

"The Centre has already delegated authority to the West Bengal government and permits will also be allowed for multiple consignments,'' he said. He was speaking on the occasion of the second meeting of the India-Bangladesh Task Force, formed by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and its Bangladesh counterpart, which presented its recommendations for increasing trade and investment between the two countries.

Mr. Ramesh pointed out that India had already announced that the import duty would be brought down to zero for 4,200 items within the next couple of years.

This was apart from the duty free access that was being allowed to eight million garments from Bangladesh.

On the question of allowing foreign direct investment from Bangladesh, he said though he was in favour of it, political and security compulsions did exist and the government was not unanimous on this.