Plan to export methanol from Assam to Bangladesh

GUWAHATI: Assam and Bangladesh have chalked out a plan to export methanol from Assam to Bangladesh.

Officials of Bangladesh and APL (Assam Petrochemicals Limited) had a meeting to export methanol and formaldehyde from APL to Bangladesh in the presence of Industries and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary at Janata Bhawan on Wednesday.

Industries and Commerce Minister Patowary said, "The expansion project of 500-TPD methanol and 200-TPD formaldehyde plant at a total cost of Rs 1337 crore is almost complete, and Assam can soon export these chemical products to Bangladesh."

The Minister also appreciated Dr Shah Mohammad Tanvir Monsur, Assistant High Commissioner of the People's Republic of Bangladesh for deepening ties between India and Bangladesh.

After a detailed discussion, both sides agreed to conduct a feasibility study and constitute a group comprising chemical importers from Bangladesh and APL officials. The importers will visit the APL plant at Namrup to work out the product line and pricing. At the same time, the process of export of methanol will start via the Siliguri route to Bangladesh. The officials agreed to have a G2G (government to government) intervention for certification of chemical products by an accredited laboratory acceptable to both countries. They also agreed to set up a lab-testing facility for streamlining the chemical export process between the two countries.

Besides Dr Tanvir Monsur, Secretary-General of Indo-Bangla Council for Commercial and Cultural Collaboration Sunit KP from Bangladesh was also present. Chairman Bikul Chandra Deka and Managing Director Rajnesh Gogoi represented the APL.

It is the follow-up of the meeting after the recent visit of Information and Broadcasting Minister of Bangladesh Dr Hasan Mahmud on February 24 last. Minister Patowary had called upon the Bangladesh Ministry officials to take opportunities of potential sectors of Assam like ethanol, methanol and hydrocarbons to improve trade and business, a press release said.

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