Nepal-India to hold meeting to enhance trade cooperation

KATHMANDU: Senior trade officials from India and Nepal will meet here this week to discuss issues like increasing Indian investments in this country, improving transit facilities and controlling unauthorised trade.

Indian Commerce Secretary S R Rao and Nepalese Commerce Secretary Madhav Prasad Regmi will lead their respective delegations to the Inter-Governmental Committee ( IGC) meeting to be held from December 21 to 22.

The two sides are expected to discuss the issues relating to bilateral trade between the two countries, transit facilities provided by India to Nepal to facilitate trade with third countries, investment promotion, improvements of infrastructure at land customs offices, controlling unauthorised trade and matters relating to Indian investment in Nepal.

"It is important for Nepal to develop its hydro potential and it is equally important for Nepal and India to forge partnership in developing hydropower," said Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae, talking to reporters in Kathmandu ahead of the IGC meeting.

"I am optimistic about Nepal and India moving ahead in cooperation in hydropower sector in the near future," he said.

Both the countries should benefit from such a cooperation and it should create a win-win situation, he added.