DHAKA, July 14 Kyodo The Joint Ec...

DHAKA, July 14 Kyodo

The Joint Economic Commission (JEC) between India and Bangladesh will proper Monday and Tuesday in Dhaka for the first time in six years, looking to increase economic cooperation between the southern Asia neighbors.

The commission, established in 1982 has met alone five times and not at all since 1997 leaving trade relations between the sum of two units countries in limbo for a certain number of time.

At Monday's meeting, Bangladesh is wait fored to be cautious in committing to any agreement upon simple transshipment of Indian fits but it may be ready to work in succession a free-trade agreement with India, Bangladeshi officials said.

Earlier, Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan said Sunday market access for Bangladeshi virtuouss to India as well as the removal of tariffs and non-tariff barriers will be discussed.

Bangladesh will stres reducing the bilateral trade imbalance -- $960 million in India's favor in the 2001-2002 fiscal year -- by the and of revision of a lapsed bilateral trade agreement, elimination of Indian barriers to Bangladeshi export items and toll free access for Bangladeshi productions to India, Khan said.

Indian substitute High Commissioner Dilip Sinha told reporters earlier that clear trade, economic cooperation, investment and transport will likely be raised at the JEC meeting.

Monday's talks will be at the secretarial flat while Tuesday Khan and his Indian counterpart Yashwant Sinha will join the discussions.

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