Trade Scenario Between Bangladesh and Bhutan
A general Trade Agreement between Bangladesh and Bhutan was signed in May 2003 for a 5-year term with provision for renewal beyond that period with its Protocol. After the expiry of this Trade Agreement, a new Agreement, with a 5-year term, was signed on 7 November, 2009 during the visit of the Hon’ble PM of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has started internal process to renew this agreement as per decision taken at the Commerce Secretary level meeting held in Thimphu during 09-10 April 2014 and renewed on 06 December 2014. The Bangladesh side attached the importance on the exchange of trade and investment related information among the business people and having cooperation· among business community and especially on cooperation among the Chambers of Commerce in the two countries. The Bhutanese side
Bhutanese Highest Business organization was requested to field a business delegation to Bangladesh to explore the huge business opportunities. Bhutanese side agreed to encourage the private sector as well as the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry to take the initiative of sending a business delegation to Bangladesh, while at the same the Bangladeshi side will also look into fielding a business delegation to Bhutan. The Bhutanese side shared the interest of promoting Bhutan as an investment market and stressed on the need to undertake special efforts for furthering trade and bilateral investment in the interest of the private sector of both the countries. The Bhutanese side also narrated the initiative being taken to develop the industrial estates along the southern part of the country near the huge Indian market and cited the availability of clean hydropower at competitive rates besides other incentives available
Bangladesh’s export to Bhutan: Fruit juice, breakfast cereal, Garments, Melamine, Pharmaceuticals, Toiletries, kitchenware etc. dominate the export of Bangladesh to Bhutan.
Bangladesh imports: Fruits, minerals & stones, spices, cereal, prepared animal fodder etc. spices from Bhutan
Export and Import Statistics Between Bangladesh and Bhutan ( Value in milliom US$)
Fiscal Year |
Import from Bhutan |
Export to Bhutan |
Balance of Trade |
Total Trade |
2008-2009 |
12.16 |
0.61 |
(-) 11.55 |
12.77 |
2009-2010 |
11.98 |
2.24 |
(-) 9.74 |
14.22 |
2010-2011 |
18.60 |
3.12 |
(-) 15.48 |
21.72 |
2011-2012 |
20.71 |
9.13 |
(-) 11.04 |
29.84 |
2012-2013 |
24.67 |
1.82 |
(-) 22.85 |
26.49 |
2013-2014 (July-March) |
18.14 |
1.37 |
(-) 9.01 |
10.59 |
2015-16 |
21.60 |
4.74 |
(-) 16.86 |
26.34 |
2016-17 |
33.13 |
3.21 |
(-) 29.92 |
36.34 |
2017-18 |
32.30 |
4.38 |
(-) 27.92 |
36.68 |
2018-19 |
49.90 |
7.56 |
(-) 42.34 |
57.46 |
2019-20 |
40.90 |
4.36 |
(-) 36.54 |
45.26 |
2020-21 |
38.80 |
6.89 |
(-) 31.91 |
45.69 |
2021-22 |
35.50 |
9.56 |
(-) 25.94 |
45.06 |
2022-23 |
|
22.11 |
|
|
Top 20 Exported Item in Bhutan for the year 2020-2021:
Sl |
Item Name |
Amount in USD |
1 |
26190000: Slag,Dross,Etc,From The Manufacture Of Iron/Steel (Excl.Granulated Slag) |
2,096,253.39 |
2 |
20098900: Juice of any other single fruit or vegetable other than Cranberry Juice |
699,098.80 |
3 |
62071100: Men'S Or Boys' Underpants And Briefs Of Cotton |
598,541.63 |
4 |
19059000: Pastry,Cakes,Other Bread, Etc, Nes; Communion Wafers, Rice Paper, Etc, TV |
545,021.88 |
5 |
76151010: Table, kitchen or other household articles and parts thereof; of aluminium... polishing |
373,656.19 |
6 |
94039000: Parts Of Furniture |
309,759.90 |
7 |
39241000: Tableware And Kitchenware Of Plastics |
244,593.11 |
8 |
19053100: SWEET BISCUITS, TV |
215,884.22 |
9 |
63051000: Sacks And Bags, Used For Packing Goods, Of Jute, Etc |
189,010.39 |
10 |
34011100: Soap And Organic Surface-Active Products In Bars, Etc, For Toilet Use |
184,232.68 |
11 |
76101000: Doors, Windows And Their Frames And Thresholds For Doors, Of Aluminium |
148,730.30 |
12 |
19054000: Rusks, Toasted Bread And Similar Toasted Products |
142,769.61 |
13 |
30049099: Other(excl.anti-malaria, anti-TB, anti-leprosy....and kidney dialysis solution |
142,190.94 |
14 |
17049090: Sugar confei (incl. whit chocole), not cont cocoa, nes excl. Put up for retail sale |
126,631.96 |
15 |
94037000: Furniture (Excl. Seats) Of Plastics |
124,182.49 |
16 |
11052000: Potato Flakes, Granules And Pellets |
70,360.27 |
17 |
22021000: Waters (Incl. Mineral And Aerated), With Added Sugar, Sweetener, Etc |
68,712.48 |
18 |
20093100: JUICE OF ANY OTHER SINGLE CITRUS FRUIT OF A BRIX VALUE NOT EXCEEDING 20 |
64,910.03 |
19 |
30041000: Medicaments Of Penicillins... Or Streptomycins..., For Retail Sale |
59,079.50 |
20 |
30067000: GEL PREPARATIONS DESIGNED TO BE USED IN HUMAN OR VETE..MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS |
51,088.80 |
Total Export Amount: 6,889,193.09 USD