Trade via Bengal land ports disrupted amid unrest in Bangladesh

Trade between the two countries through land ports at Petrapole, Gojadanga, Mahadipur, and Fulbari in West Bengal has been affected, while some passenger movement has been reported but turnout remains low, sources said.

Trade between northeastern Indian states and Bangladesh has slowed following political upheaval in Bangladesh, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and the Army stepping in. Trade through key border points has reduced, though some movement continues. Officials are optimistic about trade normalizing soon despite the high alert along the border.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) proposed several measures to bolster BIMSTEC Economic Cooperation. Recommendations included finalising a regional FTA in phases, easing FDI restrictions, automating customs agencies, and expediting transport connectivity initiatives. CII emphasized expanding collaboration in skill development, e-commerce, and digital infrastructure to boost regional integration.

Amid political turmoil in Bangladesh, Indian exporters with operations there are shifting production to India to avoid trade disruptions. This move is essential due to delayed shipments and concerns over fulfilling overseas orders. Agri exports and land border trade are anticipated to be severely impacted, worsened by disrupted banking transactions.

The finance ministry has been monitoring the recent West Asian conflict due to concerns over its potential impact on oil prices, capital flows, and shipping costs. Officials asserted that India’s solid economic position would cushion against serious impacts. The larger concern was a potential US recession. Markets saw declines in Indian stocks and a drop […]

According to exporters, they are already facing disruptions in exports to Bangladesh due to a shortage of foreign exchange in that country. India’s exports of perishable goods are facing challenges at the border. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned, and an interim government is taking over in the country.

Indo-Bangladesh trade has effectively halted due to unrest in Bangladesh following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation on Monday. A three-day trade holiday, excluding essential services, was announced by the Bangladesh government, disrupting export and import activities at land ports.

India’s e-commerce exports may fall short of their $350 billion potential by 2030 unless urgent reforms in customs rules are implemented. The country needs improved incentives and support for overseas warehouses, similar to what China has adopted, to achieve significant growth from the current $5 billion annual export level in a rapidly expanding global market.

The Embassy of India, in cooperation with IndCham, relaunched the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia, aiming to enhance economic collaboration. Attended by business leaders and professionals, the event underscored the significance of India-Indonesia relations and their joint pursuit of growth targets. The revamped Chamber focuses on fostering new collaborations.

India has initiated preparations for the World Bank’s new B-Ready index, replacing the Doing Business index. The report will evaluate aspects of business environments, including trade and taxation. The commerce ministry is collecting data on e-commerce to improve India’s digital trade capabilities, aiming for ecommerce exports of $200-300 billion by 2030.