New Delhi, Aug 17 (KNN) India and Bangladesh are planning to establish 16 new border haats to increase trade among the two countries, said Smita Pant, senior diplomat in the Ministry of External Affairs.

Currently there are two countries that have eight haats operational, which are located across a number of northeastern states like Tripura and Meghalaya. 

Pant was delivering remarks at a conference focused on connectivity between India's Northeast and Bangladesh, organized by Asian Confluence, a think-tank.

The new border haats, whose establishment is currently under discussion, will be located in Mizoram and West Bengal. 

New border haats may improve access to markets and economic opportunities for border communities while reducing informal trade across the border.

These initiatives come even as both sides plan a slew of measures to improve the flow of trade.

New Delhi and Dhaka are also negotiating a comprehensive economic agreement.  (KNN Bureau)