KATHMANDU: An agreement has been reached to finalize amendments to the Nepal-India transit treaty and the rail service agreement between the two countries.
The proposal by Nepal for amendments and endorsement was taken positively by the Indian side, and will soon be finalized, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has said.
An agreement to this end was reached in a meeting held today through video conferencing of the Nepal-India Secretary-level inter-governmental committee formed to look into trade and transit related issues between the two countries. The Nepali team in the meeting was led by Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dr Baikuntha Aryal and the Indian team by Indian Commerce Secretary Anup Wadhawan.
Various matters relating to the trade and agreements reached between Nepal and India in the commerce sector, Nepal-India transit treatment, Nepal-India commerce treaty, Railway service agreement and agreement to control unofficial trade were discussed during the meeting, ministry spokesperson Urmila KC said.
According to the ministry, matters discussed in the bilateral dialogue were up-gradation of border customs, establishment of Nepal-India joint commercial forum, BBIN and MVA issues, quality and standards of trade goods of both the countries and problems facing trade affairs.
Both the sides have acknowledged the role of infrastructure along the cross-country border in trade promotion.
The Indian side has informed that it has already initiated the construction of integrated screening post in Nepalgunj and is preparing to put in place the same post in Bhairahawa checkpoint.
-RSS