NEW DELHI: India and Nepal reviewed a wide range of trade, transit and connectivity issues during the meeting of the India-Nepal Inter-Governmental Sub-Committee (IGSC) on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to Control Unauthorised Trade held in New Delhi on September 16-17, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ujjwal Kumar Ghosh, while the Nepali delegation was led by Joint Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Buddha Bahadur Gurung. Senior officials from the concerned ministries and departments of both countries participated in the meeting.
The IGSC serves as an institutional mechanism for detailed examination of trade and trade-related issues and for facilitating bilateral trade and transit, the ministry said.
During the meeting, both sides discussed market access, Customs and trade facilitation, standards, food safety, phytosanitary measures, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, AYUSH products, border infrastructure, and rail and road connectivity.
The two sides considered measures to facilitate greater market access for Indian and Nepali products, including agricultural and dairy products, food products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and AYUSH products.
They also discussed strengthening Customs cooperation through measures such as pre-arrival exchange of information, electronic verification of Certificates of Origin, Customs automation and digitalisation.
The discussions focused on facilitating legitimate trade while strengthening mechanisms to ensure compliance with applicable rules and prevent misuse of preferential trade arrangements, according to the press release.
Transit and connectivity also featured prominently, with both sides reviewing rail and road connectivity, freight movement, Integrated Check Posts and land-port infrastructure.
The two sides discussed improving the utilisation of existing infrastructure and addressing operational bottlenecks affecting bilateral and transit trade.
India and Nepal also welcomed continued cooperation in standards, food safety, plant quarantine and conformity assessment, including institutional cooperation and capacity-building initiatives.
Both sides emphasised continued cooperation among relevant agencies to facilitate legitimate cross-border trade and address issues related to unauthorised trade and commercial fraud.
The meeting was held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, with both sides agreeing to maintain close engagement through established institutional mechanisms and pursue time-bound follow-up on issues requiring further technical examination.
India and Nepal share close historical, cultural and economic ties, with India remaining Nepal’s largest trading partner and an important source of investment, the ministry said.
