Kathmandu, October 22

With an objective to promote and improve trade, investment and connectivity between the two nations, the fourth meeting of Nepal-Bangladesh commerce joint-secretary level technical committee started in Kathmandu today.

The two-day meeting will extensively discuss on ways to reduce the country’s trade deficit with Bangladesh and look for ways to facilitate trade between the two countries.

Nabaraj Dhakal, joint-secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, who is leading the Nepali delegation, informed that discussions will also be held on the operation of direct bus service from Kathmandu to Dhaka as well as cargo supplies between the two SAARC nations.

“We will hold intensive discussions regarding inland waterways and an understanding might be reached for carrying out a feasibility study for the purpose,” said Dhakal, adding that the discussions would also focus on providing Bangladeshi visa to Nepali students in an easy and smooth manner.

Dhakal said that the meeting would also hold a discussion regarding the operation of direct air service between Nepal and Bangladesh. “Discussions will be held regarding ‘air route’ in order to operate air service to Bangladesh from the eastern part of Nepal,” he added. A bilateral memorandum of understanding for air connectivity between the two states will be given a final shape and signed during the meeting.

“We will try to look for ways to narrow down the trade imbalance with Bangladesh and we will focus more on enhancing bilateral trade,” he said.

Moreover, trilateral transit agreement between Nepal, Bangladesh and India, harmonisation of sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade measures between competent authorities of Nepal and Bangladesh are also on the agenda.

The Nepali delegation comprises of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. Representatives from the Department of Customs, Department of Immigration, Department of Drug Administration, Department of Industry, Department of Agriculture, Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology, among others, are also involved in the meeting.