India: Pineapple growers urge closer Bangladesh links
Recently the district government has decided to set up an export zone to boost foreign trade. Around 150,000 people are dependent on pineapple cultivation for their livelihood.
Amit Ghosh, an official of the North Bengal Pineapple Growers Association, Bidhannagar, said, "More than 90 percent of villagers are directly involved in this industry; we have a market in many states, including Nepal and Bhutan. We want to send our pineapples to Bangladesh. If the government gives us permission, it will aid us financially and we will also be happy."
Ranjit Sarkar, a pineapple grower, said, "We have a very good market in our country, but if the Bangladeshi market will open that would really help us financially. We have very good relations with Bangladesh, but if we start to send pineapples, it will help to foster our ties."
Economic and cultural relations between India and Bangladesh have improved following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India in 2010 and Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh's visit to Bangladesh in September 2011.
Bangladesh's exports to India in 2010-11 were worth 512.5 million dollars, and India's exports to Bangladesh in the same period were to the tune of 4586.8 million dollars.
Source: in.news.yahoo.com
