Himalayan News Service

Dhaka, May 26:

Bangladesh’s commerce ministry has proposed appointment of honorary consuls in Guwahati and Bangalore in India to push the country’s trade interests, reports Xinhua.

In its proposal to the foreign ministry, the commerce ministry has recommended setting up of consular offices or appointment of honorary consuls in 46 territories across the world to safeguard the country’s trade interests.

The proposal is based on a recommendation by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), and identifies a number of new territories that have strategic importance and offered tremendous trade opportunities, the New Age newspaper reported yesterday.

The export promotion agency said it felt that the country should have consulates or at least honorary consuls in these 46 locations since the existing missions were neither adequately manned with trade officials nor provided with necessary logistics to cover the territories.

Besides Guwahati and Bangalore, the EPB has suggested appointment of consuls in Florence, Italy and Shanghai, China.

It also wanted consulates in emerging markets of Brazil, Peru and Chile.

Setting up consulates and appointing trade officials would help Bangladesh promote its products and services in the existing and new destinations, said an export promotion official.

For tapping trade opportunities, Bangladesh runs 34 consular, labour, trade, economic and press wings in its 58 missions abroad. Bangla-desh is planning to boost its trade ties with these states.