India and Bangladesh on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up six new border haats to increase bilateral trade.
The agreement was signed at the State Guest House in Agartala by Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Md Shafiqul Islam and Joint Secretary of Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry Bhupinder S Bhalla.
The agreement was made at the first meeting of the Joint Border Haat Committee (JBHC) which began on Sunday and concluded on Monday in Agartala.
The six new border haats would be set up in Northeast Indian states bordering Bangladesh before March 2019 but the venues are yet to be selected, the concerned officials present on the occasion told reporters.
“At the meeting, both sides noted the positive impact of border haats on the livelihood of people living in areas adjoining the haats,” said a press statement issued by India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The statement also stated that the JBHC visited the Kamalasagar border haat bordering Brahmanbaria of Bangladesh on Monday and “appreciated its vibrant functioning and noted the need for improvement of infrastructure.”