Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has urged Canada to set up an edible oil refinery at an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as Canada produces huge canola quality edible oil. Bangladesh imports edible oil worth $ 2 billion every year and Canada can take this market advantage by setting up an edible oil refinery which can be exported to neighboring countries as there is also a huge market, he said. Canada is also a big market for Bangladeshi ready garments where export volume is over $1.0 billion annually.     Tipu Munshi said this when Canadian High Commissioners in Dhaka Dr. Lilly Nicholls met Tipu Munshi at his secretariat office on Wednesday. In response Dr Lilly said Canada is keen to enhance trade and investment with Bangladesh. Tipu also sought Canadian cooperation in agricultural research and innovation.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi met Chief Minister (CM) of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Tuesday and discussed the issues of common interest in the area of trade and investment. The Commerce Minister is leading the Bangladesh delegation to two-day business event ‘Bengal Global Business Summit’ that started on Wednesday, said a press release. At the bilateral meeting on Tuesday, both the Commerce Minister of Bangladesh and the Chief Minister of West Bengal agreed that closer collaboration will be mutually beneficial for business sectors of both Bangladesh and India, particularly West Bengal. Issues like the need of improving infrastructure at the border for trade facilitation, working together for investment in jute and leather sectors, as well as the possibility of establishing border haats came up during the meeting. READ: Bangladesh keen to sign FTA with South Korea, Tipu Munshi tells Ambassador Earlier, Tipu Munshi and Mamata Banerjee recalled the close and warm relationship between the peoples of Bangladesh and West Bengal. The Commerce Minister referred to the whole hearted support of the people of West Bengal in 1971 during the great war of liberation. Tipu Munshi is also expected to visit Mizoram at the invitation of the Minister of Industries of Mizoram during his trip to India.