Bangladesh and India discussed steps to deepen bilateral trade, including reopening closed border markets, operating land ports at full capacity and lifting restrictions on yarn imports by land. The issues were raised on Monday at a Secretariat meeting between Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi. The minister said the two countries currently conduct about $13 billion in bilateral trade.

Muktadir said trade activities had slowed somewhat because of obstacles that emerged over the past year and a half. He described India as Bangladesh’s second-largest trading partner after China and said the meeting examined ways to identify problems and make future commerce easier and more effective. Discussions also emphasized reviving border markets and fully activating land ports.

A proposal was made to establish a joint task force for greater business cooperation and to improve digital infrastructure, with the aim of creating investment opportunities and expanding commercial ties. Trivedi said the countries should work together on the basis of equality and stressed joint investment and production. He said India could support Bangladesh’s garment sector by supplying inputs including zippers, buttons and machinery.