Bangladesh – Myanmar Relations- the Economic Dimension
Ambassador Ashfaqur Rahman Chairman, Centre for Foreign Affairs Studies (CFAS)
Please Check Against Delivery
37 years is a relatively long time to build up a viable economic relationship between two neighboring countries- Bangladesh & Myanmar. Let us take stock of what we have institutionally done so far1. Before independence (in 1966), an agreement to demarcate land boundary was signed with Myanmar; 2. In 1980, border agreement for cooperation was signed; 3. In 1988, an agreement for demarcation of land section of the boundary north of Naaf river was signed; 4. An understanding to have foreign secretary level annual talks touching on economic links has been agreed to; 5. A joint trade commission was established to discuss trade matters; 6. Talks on delimitation of maritime boundary has now been agreed to. But is these enough to address the entire gamut of economic relations between the two countries? What have we failed to achieve or to put it in simple terms- what else we could have done, which we could not do. We can list them also. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. There is yet no investment agreement with Myanmar; There is no shipping or air agreement; There is no tourism agreements; There are no road connectivity agreement; There is no currency exchange agreement.
In a sweeping assessment of the state of our economic relationship, one can say that both Bangladesh and Myanmar have failed to achieve a satisfactory level of economic cooperation that can take off in future. In short, the possibilities are immense, but we have together failed to take advantage of our great potentials. Let me first enumerate the strengths of Myanmar, so that one can understand the potentials of our economic dimensions of cooperation. A. Myanmar is 5 times the size of Bangladesh (Its area is 676,577 Sq. km); B. Myanmar’s coastline is 2832 km long. This is twice the size of Japan and 4.8 times the size of Bangladesh; C. Myanmar’s population is less than 40% of Bangladesh. Density of
Please Check Against Delivery
37 years is a relatively long time to build up a viable economic relationship between two neighboring countries- Bangladesh & Myanmar. Let us take stock of what we have institutionally done so far1. Before independence (in 1966), an agreement to demarcate land boundary was signed with Myanmar; 2. In 1980, border agreement for cooperation was signed; 3. In 1988, an agreement for demarcation of land section of the boundary north of Naaf river was signed; 4. An understanding to have foreign secretary level annual talks touching on economic links has been agreed to; 5. A joint trade commission was established to discuss trade matters; 6. Talks on delimitation of maritime boundary has now been agreed to. But is these enough to address the entire gamut of economic relations between the two countries? What have we failed to achieve or to put it in simple terms- what else we could have done, which we could not do. We can list them also. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. There is yet no investment agreement with Myanmar; There is no shipping or air agreement; There is no tourism agreements; There are no road connectivity agreement; There is no currency exchange agreement.
In a sweeping assessment of the state of our economic relationship, one can say that both Bangladesh and Myanmar have failed to achieve a satisfactory level of economic cooperation that can take off in future. In short, the possibilities are immense, but we have together failed to take advantage of our great potentials. Let me first enumerate the strengths of Myanmar, so that one can understand the potentials of our economic dimensions of cooperation. A. Myanmar is 5 times the size of Bangladesh (Its area is 676,577 Sq. km); B. Myanmar’s coastline is 2832 km long. This is twice the size of Japan and 4.8 times the size of Bangladesh; C. Myanmar’s population is less than 40% of Bangladesh. Density of