India wants trade to stay above politics
Stronger economic interdependence between Bangladesh and India could create jobs, boost investment and support prosperity on both sides of the border, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Dinesh Trivedi said on Monday, urging the two neighbours to keep trade and business cooperation moving despite political differences.
“There are two sides. One is the political level, which will remain. But it is also necessary for our officials and the officials of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Commerce to remain in regular touch,” he said.
Trivedi made the remarks while speaking to journalists after a meeting with Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir at the Ministry of Commerce in the Secretariat.
Bangladesh-India relations have faced several challenges following the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her subsequent stay in India.
Dhaka has sought her extradition under the bilateral treaty so that she can face trial, while New Delhi has yet to respond to the request.
Against this backdrop, the Indian envoy said political differences should not prevent the two countries from advancing economic cooperation.
“Interdependence is a permanent solution. We want to take this forward,” he said, stressing the importance of deeper economic engagement.
“There will be political issues in a democracy. But what do people want? People want development,” he said, adding that ordinary citizens primarily seek peace and prosperity.
He said political relations would follow their own course, while economic cooperation should continue to serve the interests of people in both countries.
“When the economy moves ahead of politics, politics follows the economy,” Trivedi said, while emphasising that both political and economic relations were important.
Focus on people, jobs
The High Commissioner said the welfare of ordinary people, particularly young people, should remain at the centre of policymaking in both countries.
“The common man has to be kept in mind,” he said, referring to Mahatma Gandhi’s principle that decision-makers should consider the needs of the poorest person when making policy choices.
He said people generally expected governments to provide jobs, education, healthcare, good roads and electricity, arguing that stronger trade and business-to-business links could contribute to delivering such benefits.
Trivedi stressed the need for regular engagement between officials of the two countries’ commerce ministries alongside political-level contacts.
He said business communities also had an important role to play because of their contribution to the economies of both countries.
The envoy pointed to a recent visit to Bangladesh by a large Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) delegation, which held meetings with members of the Bangladeshi business community.
He called for more frequent interaction between businesses, saying stronger business-to-business links could help drive economic development.
Scope for joint production
Trivedi also highlighted the potential for joint production and investment, particularly in the garment sector.
He said Bangladesh had a strong position in garment manufacturing, while Indian companies could supply zippers, machinery and other apparel inputs.
If companies from the two countries worked together, he said, they could produce goods through Indo-Bangla or Bangladesh-India joint ventures.
The envoy said he felt proud when he saw garments made in Bangladesh in markets in the United States and Europe.
“Two countries’ businesses should work more closely,” he said.
He also emphasised the importance of addressing the aspirations of the younger generation, noting that Bangladesh and India both have large populations of young people with skills, knowledge and ambitions.
“It is our responsibility to work towards fulfilling the aspirations of the young generation of both countries,” he said.
‘Both are sovereign countries’
Trivedi said Bangladesh and India were independent and sovereign states and that neither country should be viewed as bigger or smaller than the other.
“Both countries will protect their respective interests and take the relationship forward,” he said, expressing hope that bilateral ties would improve further.
He said greater economic interdependence could help build a relationship that delivered tangible benefits for people in both countries.
“The responsibility of both countries is to give peace and prosperity to the young generation,” he said.
The High Commissioner concluded by stressing that peace was essential for prosperity and that bilateral cooperation should ultimately be guided by the interests and wellbeing of ordinary people.
