Chittagong, Bangladesh: U Thein Sein, the President of Burma’s civilian government, is scheduled to visit Bangladesh next month to discuss bilateral trade, among other issues, according to government sources.
During a recent meeting in Rangoon, government officials of both countries expressed their willingness to sign an agreement next month on using smaller, non-conventional vessels with a maximum capacity of 6,000 tons on the sea trade routes between the two countries because they cost less to operate and take less time to deliver their cargo.
Bangladesh and Burma have agreed in principle to allow shipping by using these non-conventional vessels.
Joint secretary of the shipping ministry, Md Alauddin, who headed the Bangladesh delegation at the meeting, said: "We will amend the existing protocol and incorporate the use of non-conventional vessels."
Both countries amended the 'Agreement on Coastal and Maritime Shipping' and the 'Protocol on Coastal Sea-borne Trade' of 2008, he added.
“Bangladesh and Myanmar will declare three 'ports of call' on their respective sides after signing the agreement,” he said.
"We are preparing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to set a formal framework on use of non-conventional vessels," he added.
Both the countries will have to sign the SOP, he added.
Another member of the team said Bangladesh can access markets in Thailand, China, and Malaysia through Burma after starting using smaller vessels between the countries.
"We can reduce dependence on India if we can get access to those markets," he added.
"Freight charges are negotiable in non-conventional vessels. Sailing time of non-conventional small vessels is also short. Both countries can export or import products within 12 hours," he said.
Bangladeshi businessmen faced difficulties competing with products from Thailand and China due to higher freight charges, he said.
Mr KB Ahmed, President of the Bangladesh-Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, “The population of the country is increasing quickly; so we should find new markets to reduce dependence on India.”
Earlier, the shipping ministry formed a nine-member committee to prepare a draft of the amendment to the agreement.
The committee, headed by Md Alauddin, is now working on an amendment to the agreement by reviewing the existing protocol.
It is also scrutinizing import-export statistics between the countries. It will also set port and other charges.
