The government plans to introduce direct flight services with Myanmar to increase exports especially of pharmaceutical products to the southeastern Asian neighbour. The commerce ministry will prepare a position paper soon to this effect and forward it to the council of advisers for approval. The ministry will also make proposals for resuming border trade with Myanmar to facilitate trade.

A meeting with the related ministries, which include civil aviation and shipping, will be convened soon to discuss the issue, sources said Myanmar is the country’s third largest export destination for pharmaceutical products, ministry sources said. Bangladesh exported pharmaceutical products worth $1.7 million in 2005-06 against $1.4 million in 2004-05 to Myanmar. Bangladesh is currently exporting pharmaceutical products to 63 countries.

Bangladesh’s ambassador in Yangon recently wrote to the government to consider introducing direct flight services and resuming border trade with Myanmar. A recent visit of Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury to Myanmar also focused on expanding trade between the two countries. During the visit, the two countries also discussed introduction of direct flight services and resumption of border trade.

During the visit, issues relating to foreign currency crisis and lack of banking facilities in Myanmar were also discussed. The problems hinder trade between the two countries. The potential of trade between the two neighbours could not be utilised fully due to lack of direct flight services and stoppage of border trade operations, an exporter said.