Minister of Commerce and Industry Chandra Mohan Patowary on October 16th, 2019 announced that India’s first International Multi-Modal Hub will be set up in Assam.
The construction of the transshipment point for cargo movements is reported to be funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at an estimated cost of around Rs 600 crore. It will be built at Jogighopa, a small town located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River in the Bongaigaon district of the state.
The transport hub will be built in a move to reduce the logistics cost and also boost faster delivery of Bangladesh cargos connecting Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland to the neighboring country. The Minister also announced that the Munshiganj River Terminal in Bangladesh will be used as a customs station to handle third-party export and import cargo.
Meanwhile, India has sought to permit a third country export-import trade under the coastal shipping agreement and protocol on inland water transit and trade (PIWTT) by allowing trans-shipment through ports on the east coast of India, the IANS reported.
The increase in the air, water, rail and road connectivity between both the countries(India and Bangladesh) is expected to expand greater horizons of enhancing the economy.
It may be mentioned that the Assam government will be hosting a 2-day stakeholders’ meet between India and Bangladesh from October 22nd, 2019 in Guwahati. Reportedly, a 70-member delegation from Bangladesh will be participating in the program.
Photo credit: AIR News Guwahati
