“The Indian Commerce Minister will be here on September 23 and return home on September 25. We’ll have a bilateral meeting at state guesthouse where we’ll discuss border haat issues in details,” Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed told parliament on Monday.

While responding to a supplementary question from Nabi Newaz (Jhenaidah-3), he said there is a plan to take Indian Minister to Tofail’s constituency as he desires to visit rural areas.

On opening more border haats, the Commerce Minister said Bangladesh cannot do it alone and it will have to be done through mutual discussions with India.

“Though discussions, we’ll have to find out suitable places,” he said adding that the idea of opening border haat along Bangladesh-India border turned a successful one.

Responding to another question, the Commerce Minister said the government has taken multiple steps to diversify products and export market and Bangladesh will be able to export US$ 60 billion by 2021.

He said Bangladesh is in negotiations with friendly countries to sign free trade agreements to have stronger trade ties.

Minister Tofail also said Bangladesh is getting ready to face trade challenges as Bangladesh will no more enjoy trade benefits like Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) or Everything but Arms (EBA) in the European market once Bangladesh reaches the next stage of development.

In the last 10 years, he said, Bangladesh’s export turned US$ 37 billion from US$ 14 billion.

The Commerce Minister said the government has taken an initiative to export herbal products in large volumes.