18 Bhutanese products given duty free access to Bangladesh; Main themes of SAARC Summit to be climate change, poverty alleviation among others; Bhutanese PM in Kathmandu meets with his Nepalese counterpart
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    • After much controversy in Bangladesh over duty free access to Bhutanese products, eighteen products from Bhutan have finally got such access to Bangladesh. These include fresh and chilled vegetables, pulses, cardamom, ginger, fresh fruits, jam, fruit juices, mineral water, limestone, gypsum, calcium carbonate, particle board, ferro-silicon, semi-finished products of iron, non-alloy steel and others. These items can be exported without any export duty. While Bangladesh's exports to Bhutan are less than $1 million, Bhutan exports goods worth $14 million to Bangladesh.1

    The main themes of the forthcoming SAARC summit to be held in Thimpu from April 28-29, 2010 are climate change, poverty alleviation, curbing terrorism and measures to promote economic cooperation. China, Japan, the European Union, South Korea, US, Australia, Mauritius and Iran would attend the summit as observers.2

    The visiting Bhutanese PM Jigme Y Thinley met his Nepalese counterpart Madhav Kumar Nepal and discussed issues of mutual concern. Mr. Nepal brought to the attention of Mr. Thinley the status of Bhutanese refugees and the need to repatriate them. Mr. Thinley on his part urged more discussions on the issue.3

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