Dhaka: A wide range of bilateral issues, including border skirmishes, implementation of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by October and transhipment facilities for Indian goods, will be discussed during the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission meeting, which begins on July 15 after a gap of six years.

External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, who arrived in Bangladesh on July 14 night, said New Delhi would stress on concluding the Free Trade Agreement with Bangladesh and seeking transit and transhipment facilities for Indian goods through Bangladesh.

India would also like to work to reduce the existing trade gap with Bangladesh, he said.

The Secretary-level Standing Committee, where the Indian delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal, on July 14 decided to discuss the implementation of the FTA by October.

Earlier, Bangladesh Foreign Minister M Morshed, who will lead his side during the talks, said Dhaka would seek greater access for its goods as well as removal of non-tariff barriers to help reduce the trade gap before agreeing to the FTA.

Besides thorny issues like trade imbalance and frequent border skirmishes, measures to resolve several pending border-related issues such as demarcation of remaining border areas, curbing terror activities and trafficking of men and materials will also be discussed.

Bangladesh's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Reaz Rahman, who received Sinha on July 14 evening, said Dhaka was ready to discuss all issues that would benefit the two countries.

PTI