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  Business   Economy  04 Oct 2017  India extends USD 4.5 billion in project finance to Bangladesh

India extends USD 4.5 billion in project finance to Bangladesh

REUTERS
Published : Oct 4, 2017, 1:50 pm IST
Updated : Oct 4, 2017, 1:50 pm IST

Most of the equipment for the Indian-funded projects will have to be bought from India, said the Bangladesh Finance Minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government announced a new credit line of USD 4.5 billion to Bangladesh. (Photo: PTI)
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government announced a new credit line of USD 4.5 billion to Bangladesh. (Photo: PTI)

Dhaka: India on Wednesday signed an agreement with Bangladesh extending a USD 4.5 billion credit line for several infrastructure projects, as New Delhi tries to expand its influence over its smaller neighbour amid rising Chinese competition.

The loan, the biggest credit line provided by India to any country, was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April and takes India’s total financial support for Dhaka to more than USD 8 billion over the past six years.

China is Bangladesh’s biggest trade partner followed by India and last year pledged around USD 24 billion in loans for the South Asian nation, which is one of the world’s poorest.

Most of the equipment for the Indian-funded projects will have to be bought from India, Bangladesh Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith told reporters after the agreement was signed in presence of his Indian counterpart, Arun Jaitley in Dhaka. The projects are targeted for the power, rail, shipping, ports, health and education sectors.

The loan, for a total of 17 projects, would be repaid over 20 years at an interest rate of 1 percent.

India has long considered Bangladesh as part of its area of influence, and under Prime Minister Modi has boosted economic links with it as well as with other neighbours including Nepal and Sri Lanka.

“A strong, stable and prosperous Bangladesh is in India’s interest,” Jaitley told reporters. “We are committed to working with Bangladesh to deepen our bilateral ties.”

Tags: indo-bangladesh ties, prime minister narendra modi, finance minister arun jaitley
Location: India, Maharashtra, Mumbai (Bombay)