सिंहदरबार संवाददाता
Kathmandu. The second meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Business Forum (JBF) has been concluded in Chandragiri, Kathmandu. Representatives from Nepal and India participated in the meeting, which was held with the aim of further strengthening economic and commercial relations between the two countries.
Welcoming the participants in the forum meeting, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Chandra Prasad Dhakal said that there is immense potential in the economic sector between Nepal and India and that policy reforms and practical solutions should be found to resolve the problems seen in both sectors.
During the program, President Dhakal said that it is necessary to remove non-trade barriers, facilitate the resolution of problems seen due to the certification process of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in the export of Nepali goods, connect Indian cities with Bhairahawa and Pokhara airports, and ensure smooth supply of explosives required for Nepal’s hydropower and other construction-related development. .
Similarly, he raised the issue of expanding Nepal’s access to Indian ports including Mundra (Gujarat), Dhamra (Odisha) and Jawaharlal Nehru (Mumbai). In the JBF meeting, which is part of the Nepal-India Commerce Secretary-level meeting, representatives of Nepal and India discussed issues including trade, investment, energy, tourism, agriculture, information technology and infrastructure development.
In the joint meeting, it was agreed to promote clean energy by collaborating on projects including hydropower and renewable energy, solar, wind, tourism and connectivity, strengthening road, rail and air connectivity to facilitate cross-border trade, trade and cross-border investment, agriculture and medicinal plants, removing quotas for agricultural products and providing high-quality seeds and technology, cooperation in research and commercialization in medicinal plants, digital technology and startup support, etc.
On the occasion, both countries have expressed their commitment to cooperate to solve problems seen in trade. The agreements reached in the second meeting have been handed over to the Commerce Secretaries of Nepal and India. The agreements were handed over to Indian Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal and Nepal Commerce Secretary Govinda Bahadur Karki by Forum Chairs Bhawani Rana and Santhil Kumar.
Speaking at an interaction program between (JBF) members and government agencies of both countries organized after the forum meeting, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari said that India is Nepal’s largest trading partner and that both sides should implement the agreements reached in the JBF meeting. He also expressed the view that the problems seen in import and export between the two countries should be resolved in a smooth manner.
Govinda Bahadur Karki, Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, said that practical implementation of the issues presented at the forum meeting was necessary. Indian Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal expressed his commitment to take initiative from his side to implement the agenda raised at the JBF.
Chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Chandra Prasad Dhakal said that both sides should take initiative to implement the agreements reached at the JBF meeting. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava said that this meeting is important in economic issues between the two countries and said that he will take the initiative on his part to facilitate the issues raised here.
On the occasion, Forum (Nepal) Chairperson Bhawani Rana said that there is a vast potential for investment and trade between Nepal and India and necessary facilitation should be done to benefit from it. From the Indian side, N. Sunil Kumar said that further facilitation will be added in the coming days as road, rail and air connectivity between Nepal and India is being improved.
It has been agreed that the next meeting of the Forum will be held in New Delhi, India.
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्