LOC20:39
17:39 GMT
NEW DELHI, March 18 (KUNA) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurated Saturday the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFP) to transport diesel.
In a statement, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that both Prime Ministers participated in a virtual mode to inaugurate the pipeline they had laid the foundation stone for the construction in September 2018.
"Cooperation in the power and energy sector has become one of the hallmarks of India-Bangladesh relations. IBFP is the first cross border energy pipeline between India and Bangladesh with a capacity to transport one Million Metric Ton Per Annum of High-Speed Diesel to Bangladesh," the statement said.
This development will further cement people-to-people linkages between the two sides. "Bangladesh is India's top-most development partner and its largest trade partner in the region. The operationalisation of the Friendship Pipeline will enhance ongoing energy cooperation between the two countries and will further growth in Bangladesh, particularly in the agriculture sector," the ministry said.
Initially, the pipeline will supply High Speed Diesel to seven districts in northern Bangladesh.
"The operation of India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline will put in place a sustainable, reliable, cost-effective and environment friendly mode of transporting HSD from India to Bangladesh and will further enhance cooperation in energy security between the two countries," the ministry said.
Modi also thanked Hasina for her constant guidance on the project and expressed his wish to continue working with her for the benefit of the people of the two countries. (end)
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