Bangladesh and India will sign the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a greater economic cooperation deal, to boost bilateral trade. Analysts say, Bangladesh will benefit from the deal if it is negotiated carefully. The country currently, as an LDC, enjoys zero-duty benefits on exports to India for all goods except for 25 alcoholic beverage items.
The CEPA is a greater partnership deal between two countries or with any trade bloc, under which special treatment is given in areas of trade, investment, energy cooperation, logistic support and so on. Under the partnership, both countries will work towards improving logistic and trade-related capacities of Bangladesh.
The deal could lead to more Indian investment in Bangladesh, more energy cooperation and aid for trade between. India has signed CEPA with some countries like South Korea and Japan and is in negotiations with the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) to hammer a similar deal.
