Kathmandu, Jan 12: The second meeting of Nepal-India Joint Business Forum (JBF) has laid emphasis on expansion of bilateral trade and business. The meeting aimed at further deepening the economic and business relations between the two countries concluded on Saturday.
On the occasion, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari said that India is Nepal’s largest trading partner and both countries should take the decisions of the JBF meeting into implementation.
He also underscored on carrying out works for resolving the problems seen in the import and export between the two nations in an easier manner.
Ministry Secretary Govinda Bahadur Karki spoke of the need of practical implementation of the topics decided in the JBF meeting.
Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) President Chandra Prasad Dhakal said there is immense possibility in the economic sector between Nepal and India. He stressed on moving ahead through policy reforms and exploring practical solutions for addressing the problems seen in both trade and business sectors.
He called for removing the non-tariff barriers, facilitating in resolving the problems arising due to the certification process of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in export of Nepali goods, for air connectivity between Bhairahawa and Pokhara airports of Nepal with various Indian cities and for the smooth supply of explosives required for construction and development of hydroelectricity projects.
The FNCCI President also raised the topic of expanding Nepal’s access to various Indian ports, including Mundra (Gujarat), Dhamara (Udisha) and Jawaharlal Nehru port (Mumbai). The JBF meeting is a part of Nepal-India Commerce Secretary-level Meeting. In the meeting, the representatives of Nepal and India had discussed on trade, investment, energy, tourism, agriculture, information technology and infrastructure development, among other topics.
An agreement was reached in the JBF meeting for the promotion of clean energy through collaboration in hydroelectricity and renewable energy, solar and wind projects, of tourism and connectivity, of easing the trans-border trade by strengthening the road, railway and air connectivity and of enhancing trade and cross-border investment, agriculture and medicinal plants, providing high-yielding seeds and technology by removing the quota for agricultural productions, of collaboration in research and commercialization of medicinal herbs and of cooperation in digital technology and startups.
The agreed upon topics of the meeting have been handed over to the Commerce Secretary of Nepal and India on Saturday itself. JBF President Bhawani Rana and Santhil Kumar handed over the agreement to Commerce Secretary of India Sunil Barthwal and Nepal’s Commerce Secretary Karki.
The Indian Commerce Secretary expressed the commitment to take the initiative for the implementation of the agendas raised in course of the JBF meeting. Ambassador of India to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava said this meeting is important in terms of the economic issues between the two countries and that he would take initiatives for facilitating the topics raised in the JBF meeting.
JBF Nepal president Bhawani Rana reiterated that there is extensive possibility of investment and trade between Nepal and India, and there should be the required facilitation for taking benefit from this.
Similarly, from Indian side N Sunil Kumar believed that there would be more convenience in the coming days, as the road, railway and air connectivity between Nepal and India is improving. It is agreed the JBF next meeting will be convened in New Delhi, India.
