Indian High Commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty today said India would further prune the negative list of products to make the overseas trade easier. There are 400 names of products on the negative list of India at present, which was cut down from 700 few years ago.

The high commissioner asked the businessmen from both Bangladesh and India for joint investment that he said would boost cross-border trades in the region. Pinak was addressing the inaugural session of the fourth 'Buyer-Seller Meet cum Exhibition' on Indian footwear components and accessories at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.

India, being the second largest producer of footwear products in the world, produces footwear and accessories worth $7 billion. Products worth $3.6 billion are exported while the remaining is consumed in the domestic market. "There is no fear, we are your friend, we will remain your friend," Pinak said at the inaugural speech.

Council for Leather Exports India and Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers and Association (IFCOMA) organised the two-day exhibition where 23 Indian companies participated. Saiful Islam, president of Leather and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB), said the process was underway to set up a joint venture company of footwear accessories in Bangladesh to meet the growing demand of such components and accessories.

-Daily Star