Commerce minister off to join Integrating Bimstec 2020 in Mumbai

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi left Dhaka this afternoon to join the Integrating Bimstec-2020 going to begin tomorrow in Mumbai, India.

Munshi will lead a three-member Bangladeshi delegation in the two-day (February 26-27) international seminar to be organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in association with Indian Ministry of External Affairs at Mumbai's World Trade Centre.

Tomorrow, Munshi will speak as the chief guest in the inaugural ceremony of the programme. He is scheduled to return to Dhaka on February 28.

For over 20 years, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) has been contributing significantly to strengthen economic cooperation among its seven member countries lying in the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal.

Integrating Bimstec-2020 is believed to be able to play an important role in increasing commerce and trade facilities as well as creating a regional physical and digital connection among member nations in order to expand free trade agreement among themselves.

Besides, the seminar may also help to boost trade of goods and services, and investment among the member countries including Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.