Dhaka: Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Thursday said Russia will import one lakh ton potato from Bangladesh, as the country is interested to boost bilateral trade.  

‘Bangladesh Agriculture Department has made the potato bacteria free as per the requirement of Russia . . . a delegation of the country is expected to arrive here soon to finalize the deal of potato,’ he told the newsmen after a meeting with the Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander A Nikolaev at his secretariat office.  

The minister said Russian is keen to import readymade garment (RMG) from Bangladesh, ‘but, there is complexities regarding custom duty, which also has the involvement with Belarus and Kazakhstan.’

Export of RMG products would possible to export easily, Tofail said, if the complexities are eliminated.

Bangladesh has a US$ 03.05 million trade deficit with Russia, as in the fiscal year 2013-14, Bangladesh exported products of US$ 283.35 million against the import of US$ 286.40 million.  

The commerce minister also received the invitation letter from the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei PriKhodko to join the 19th Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum scheduled to be held in June 18-20.  

Citing the ongoing review of the existing trade agreement with India, Tofail Ahmed said the review would allow Bangladesh to use Indian corridor in facilitating trade with Bhutan and Nepal. ‘Bangladeshi, Nepalese and Bhutanese good laden vehicles would get chance to move between the three countries as per the reviewed agreement, which would boost Bangladesh's foreign trade,’ he added.