B’desh high commission official visits APL Namrup

Dibrugarh: Assistant high commissioner of Bangladesh and head of mission in Guwahati, Zikrul Hasan Fahad, paid a visit to Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited (APL) at Namrup on Friday, coinciding with the observance of World Environment Day.

The visit is being viewed as an effort to strengthen and expand the already existing trade relationship between the premier petrochemical company and Bangladesh.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, Fahad planted a tree sapling at the APL campus, symbolising a shared commitment towards environmental sustainability and a greener future. He also toured the company’s production facilities, where he was briefed on APL’s operations, technological capabilities and future expansion plans.

Bangladesh is not a new market for APL. In July 2023, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had flagged off methanol exports from APL’s new 500 TPD methanol plant at Namrup to Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh marking a significant milestone in the company’s push to expand its footprint in neighbouring countries. Friday’s high-level visit signals a desire on both sides to deepen that engagement further.

A meeting was subsequently held with the APL management, during which matters of mutual interest, industrial cooperation and broader trade opportunities between APL and Bangladesh were discussed. APL Chairman Bikul Chandra Deka, Vice-Chairman Hemanta Gogoi, Managing Director Rajnesh Gogoi, Director (Finance) Pramod Kumar Prasad and Heads of Departments were present at the meeting.

APL Chairman Bikul Chandra Deka said the visit was an important step forward. “Bangladesh is already a valued market for APL’s products. This visit gives us the opportunity to build on that foundation and explore newer avenues of cooperation. We are committed to making APL a key industrial partner for our neighbouring countries,” he said.

Fahad expressed appreciation for APL’s scale of operations. “The facilities and capabilities at APL are truly impressive. Given our existing trade ties, there is considerable scope for expanding cooperation and we look forward to working towards that,” he said.