Bangladesh urges India to provide a trade corridor through West Bengal in return for transit facilities; Nepal PM urged to speed up the process of repatriation of Bhutanese refugees
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Whatsapp
  • Linkedin
  • Print

    • Bangladesh Commerce Minister Col. (retd.) Faruk Khan urged India to provide a corridor for his country through West Bengal to carry out trade with Bhutan and Nepal in return for his country providing transit facilities to India. Bangladesh had recently agreed to allow India to use its waterways to transport heavy machines for the upcoming 740 MW ONGC power project in southern Tripura1.

    Report noted that Bhutanese leaders in exile met with Nepalese PM Madhav Kumar Nepal and sought his help to speed up the process of repatriation of Bhutanese refugees. They also noted the important role that India will have to play in the process. According to the latest estimates, around 17,000 refugees have been resettled through the Third Country Resettlement Programme. The President of the Bhutan People’s Party, Balaram Poudel stated that a majority of refugees wanted to return to Bhutan2.

    Bhutan, in its latest Foreign Direct Investment Policy guidelines, has allowed for 100 percent equity in key areas such as manufacturing, services, land ownership, foreign workers, and on external borrowing. Analysts noted that allowing foreign companies to own land is a key policy shift3.

    Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley, in response to Indian concerns over the presence of militant groups assured New Delhi that his government will not allow militant groups to re-establish bases on its territory. Reports noted that groups like the NDFB and ULFA have managed to establish small bases in jungle areas, catering to small groups of 10-15 militants4.

    Prime Minister Thinley left on a bilateral visit to Japan on August 27. The visit, being undertaken on the invitation of the Japan Junior Chamber of Commerce, would focus on improving economic cooperation between the two countries5.

    Top