Bangladesh urges faster India business visas for balanced economic partnership

Bangladesh has urged India to speed up business visas and ease trade barriers. Dhaka says a more balanced economic partnership would boost trade, investment and jobs.Bangladesh has asked India to speed up the issuance of business visas for its nationals and make it easier to do business, as Dhaka pushes for an economic partnership with New Delhi that is "equally beneficial". Speaking at an event in Dhaka, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said stronger trade, investment and business links would help both sides.Islam said Bangladesh wanted businesses and private sectors in the two countries to "communicate more frequently" and called for practical steps to support that goal. She also said bilateral trade had grown significantly over the years, but remained structurally imbalanced and well below its full potential.According to the Dhaka Tribune, Islam said at a reception on Tuesday night, "Business visas for Bangladeshis should be issued more quickly so that businesspeople can travel to India more frequently." She also stressed the need to address "non-tariff barriers, standards and testing-related difficulties, procedural delays, and infrastructure constraints that affect the smooth movement of goods and services".The minister said Bangladesh wanted "more vibrant trade, investment and communication" between the two countries and that greater predictability and ease of doing business would benefit companies on both sides. Dhaka wanted an economic partnership with New Delhi that was "equally beneficial and brings tangible changes" to people's lives, she said. "I am confident that the business communities of our two countries have both the vision and the capacity to make this happen. We can collectively identify practical solutions to the challenges," Islam said at the reception hosted by the Indian High Commission for leading Bangladeshi business leaders and a delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industry. Islam said India remained a major trading partner of Bangladesh. She said the objective should be to expand the overall economic partnership, overcome challenges, and create greater opportunities for trade, business and investment on both sides. She also invited greater Indian investment in Bangladesh, citing its large domestic market, industrial workforce, competitive production capabilities and proximity to regional markets."Our economic zones provide Indian companies with opportunities to establish dedicated manufacturing and export facilities. We would particularly welcome investments that bring technology, integrate local suppliers, and create employment. And, in the process, connect Bangladeshi products to regional and global value chains," she said. Islam added that Indian companies with established distribution networks could increase sourcing from Bangladesh in sectors where its industries were already competitive, including ready-made garments, textiles, jute and jute products, leather and footwear, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing, ceramics, plastics and light engineering. Bangladesh is India's largest trading partner in South Asia, while India is one of Bangladesh's biggest export destinations in Asia. As of February 2025-26, total bilateral trade turnover stands at about USD 11.35 billion. Under the South Asian Free Trade Area, India provides duty-free and quota-free market access for almost all Bangladeshi products. The thrust of Islam's remarks was that quicker visas, fewer trade obstacles and more investment could help both countries build a broader and more balanced economic relationship.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 19, 2026 14:36 IST