KATHMANDU: Expressing concern over Nepal’s growing trade deficit with India, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is on a three-day visit to New Delhi, underlined the need for taking measures to enhance Nepal’s exports to India. According to the joint statement, both Dahal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed satisfaction at the steady growth of bilateral trade.
However, Dahal expressed concern over Nepal’s growing trade deficit with India and underlined the need for taking measures to enhance Nepal’s exports to India. The two heads also noted the successful conclusion of the meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) on Trade, Transit and Control of Unauthorized Trade, at the Secretary-level in June 2016, and agreed that the IGC will continue to discuss trade infrastructure and trade facilitation related measures to boost bilateral trade. They agreed that the Trade Treaty between India and Nepal would be renewed in October 2016 in terms of provisions of the Treaty, with the aim of enhancing the bilateral trade.
Both sides also agreed to hold civil aviation talks to discuss air services matters, including request for additional air routes. They noted the successful completion of two roads totalling about 71 kilometers under Phase I of Terai road project and directed the officials to expedite the construction of postal roads and feeder roads (Terai roads) and complete them expeditiously, in accordance with the modalities for implementation agreed by both sides in February 2016.
The two Prime Ministers stressed the need for early development of infrastructure at integrated check posts (ICPs) to facilitate smooth and faster movement of people and goods. They noted with satisfaction the progress in construction of Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) at Raxaul and Jogbani, and agreed that work on the Raxaul-Birgunj ICP project will be expedited with the objective of completing it by December 2016.
