India is keen to further strengthen relations with Bangladesh. Coal India has taken the initiative to export coal directly to long time neighbor, emphasizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'first neighbor' policy.
According to a recent Reuters report, Coal India, a state-owned company that has been supplying coal to the domestic market for decades, has sent a draft policy to coal ministry for approval. There are plans to export coal to Bangladesh as well as Nepal and Bhutan. According to a Reuters report, the proposal was made referring to the Indian government's ‘neighbor first’ policy. Modi government is pushing for that policy to counter China's growing influence in South Asia.
The proposal was presented at an internal meeting on corporate strategy in October 2020. The Coal India chairman confirmed the matter to news agency this week. Even if their proposal is approved, given the current state of coal reserves in India, it would not be possible for Coal India to start exporting until later this year, according to a Reuters report.
Promod Agarwal, chairman of Coal India, told that they wanted to start exports in the current financial year (ending next March) if there was no stockpile crisis. But for now, the country's market has to be given priority. According to international relations analysts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a very good relationship with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In the days of Awami League, Bangladesh has started a campaign against the anti-India forces. At the same time, New Delhi has taken steps to strengthen trade and bilateral relations with Bangladesh to compete with China.
Source : PIB
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