Vietnam has responded positively to assist Bangladeshi potato exporters to enter Vietnamese markets.
The issue was discussed at the second meeting of Bangladesh-Vietnam Joint Trade Committee (JTC) held is Hanoi, Vietnam Friday (Dec 27) when Dhaka made the request about potato exports.
A press release issued by Bangladesh embassy in Vietnam said the two sides discussed trade and investment issues and identified 11 priority areas.
The areas include agricultural trade, pharmaceutical exports from Bangladesh, Vietnamese investment in Bangladesh’s Special Economic Zones, ICT sector cooperation, bilateral cooperation in textile and garments sector, trade in Halal products, trade in software services, direct air link, promotion of trade in jute and jute goods, banking sector cooperation and tourism sector cooperation (including Buddhist tourism).
Both sides agreed to work closely to enhance the volume of bilateral trade to $2 billion by the year 2021 which is presently worth nearly $1 billion.
Bangladesh requested the Vietnam side to send delegations to visit Bangladesh and gain first hand experience about the pharmaceutical industry, Hi-tech parks and Special Economic Zones in Bangladesh.
Dhaka requested Hanoi to ease the visa process for Bangladeshi tourists specially business-people. To ease business transaction, both sides agreed to encourage commercial banks to open branches in each capital.
Commerce Secretary Md Jafar Uddin led the Bangladesh side while Cao Quoc Hung, Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade, led the Vietnam side.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Vietnam Samina Naz and Director General (South East Asia) of the foreign ministry MJH Jabed attended the JTC meeting as members.