शिपिंग सेक्रेटरी लेवल की बातचीत ढाका में नए फैसलों के साथ खत्म हुई।
22 Dec 2023
- नाविकों के लिए वीज़ा जारी करना, किनारे से छुट्टी की सुविधा और वापस लाना आसान बनाना।
- ट्रेड और कनेक्टिविटी बढ़ाने के लिए LCS राधिकापुर और होदीबारी में लैंड रूट।
- बांग्लादेश IBP रूट को बढ़ाएगा और PIWT&T के तहत सफ़ारदिघी को नया पोर्ट ऑफ़ कॉल घोषित करेगा।
- बेहतर वेसल नेविगेशन और ट्रैकिंग के लिए IBP रूट पर कॉमन ऑटोमैटिक आइडेंटिफिकेशन सिस्टम।
- दोनों देशों के बीच सामान की आवाजाही के लिए ACMP में पायरा सी पोर्ट को शामिल करना।
- IBP रूट से भारतीय साइड में हैंडल किया जाने वाला कार्गो 170% तक बढ़ गया है। पहले यह 2014-15 में 2 MMTPA था जो अब 5.4 MMTPA है।
भारत सरकार और बांग्लादेश सरकार के बीच ढाका में तीन हाई-लेवल बातचीत हुई, जिसमें शिपिंग सेक्रेटरी लेवल बातचीत (SSLT), प्रोटोकॉल ऑन इनलैंड वॉटर ट्रांजिट एंड ट्रेड (PIWT&T) के तहत स्टैंडिंग कमेटी (SCM) की 22वीं मीटिंग और सामान के आने-जाने के लिए चटगाँव और मोंगला पोर्ट के इस्तेमाल पर इंटर-गवर्नमेंटल कमेटी (IGC) की तीसरी मीटिंग शामिल है।
शिपिंग सेक्रेटरी लेवल बातचीत और तीसरी इंटर-गवर्नमेंटल कमेटी मीटिंग के लिए डेलीगेशन को भारत की तरफ से पोर्ट्स, शिपिंग एंड वॉटरवेज़ मिनिस्ट्री के सेक्रेटरी श्री टी.के. रामचंद्रन और बांग्लादेश की तरफ से शिपिंग मिनिस्ट्री के सीनियर सेक्रेटरी श्री एम.डी. मुस्तफा कमाल ने लीड किया।
The delegation for the 22nd Standing Committee meeting on PIWT&T was led by Shri Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, Chairman, IWAI, from India and Sheikh Md. Sharif Uddin, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, from Bangladesh.
Both the neighboring countries shared the water routes and coastal routes for transportation of the cargo and passengers on Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route and Coastal routes. These routes are important since they provide alternate connectivity to the North Eastern Region of India through Bangladesh. Cargo handled by IBP route in the Indian side has increased to 170%. Earlier it was 2 MMTPA in 2014-15 which is now 5.4 MMTPA. A number of decisions were taken during these three meetings to resolve the trade issues and to promote Inland Water Transport and Coastal Shipping between the two countries.
Meetings were held on 19th and 20th December, 2023 and the agreed Minutes of the Meetings were signed on the same day, i.e., on 20th December, 2023.
Highlights of Shipping Secretary Level Talks
Issues like easing visa issuance, shore-leave facility and repatriation for seafarers were deliberated upon. It was agreed to declare land route at LCS Radhikapur (Birol) and Hodibari (Chilahati) to extend trade and connectivity. Besides, inclusion of Dhamra Port as Port of Call under Coastal Shipping Agreement was considered. Bangladesh agreed on using Pangaon container terminal for interim period for transhipment of containers until Ashuganj Inland Container Terminal is fully operational. A location for drop-in centre for Bangladesh shall be identified in the next four months near Kolkata. A team from Bangladesh will look into ways to ascertain technical feasibility and commercial viability of third-party EXIM trade for the benefit of both countries. Bangladesh agreed to extend IBP route and declare Safardighi as new port of call under PIWT&T. Both sides agreed to form a technical team immediately to study inclusion of Chandpur-Chittagong stretch as IBP route under PIWT&T
Highlights of the Standing Committee meeting on PIWT&T
Bangladesh agreed to form a joint committee to implement a common Automatic Identification System (AIS) on the IBP route for better vessel navigation and tracking. Bangladesh agreed to include Mongla-Jamtola stretch for passenger and cruise vessels to visit Sunderbans area in Bangladesh. It has also been agreed that the Bangladesh side will submit a proposal for development of IBP routes 5 & 6 and 9 & 10 on 80:20 sharing basis which shall be examined by the Indian side to consider for implementation.
Highlights of Inter-Governmental Committee meeting
Both sides agreed to examine inclusion of Payra sea port in the ACMP for movement of goods between the two countries and Sabroom via Ramgarh and vice versa as additional route under ACMP subject to availability of necessary port, customs and related facilities. Besides, issues like faster berthing of vessels/barges using ACMP trade routes were also deliberated upon.
