Kathmandu, Jan. 21
Nepal and
India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to exchange pre-arrival
information on exported goods, a move aimed at facilitating trade and
strengthening customs control between the two countries.
The MoU –
Cooperation in the Exchange of Pre-Arrival Information of Export of Goods for
Trade Facilitation and Customs Control – was signed at a formal ceremony in New
Delhi on Wednesday. Nepal’s Director General of the Department of Customs,
Shyam Prasad Bhandari, and India’s Chairperson of the Central Board of Indirect
Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Vivek Chaturvedi, signed the agreement on behalf of
their respective sides.
The
exchange of advance export data between major trading partners is an
established international practice intended to support risk management, reduce
clearance time and ensure secure cross-border trade, the Ministry of Finance
(MoF) of Nepal said in a statement.
As India
is Nepal’s principal trading partner, the agreement seeks to institutionalise
the advance sharing of export-related data between the two customs
administrations, it said.
The MoU
was prepared jointly by Nepal’s Department of Customs and India’s CBIC. Prior
to finalisation, consultations were held with relevant stakeholders. The
agreement was subsequently approved by the Cabinet of the Government of Nepal,
which authorised the Director General of the Department of Customs to sign the
document.
According
to the provisions of the MoU, both sides will use advance information for risk
analysis to enhance customs control and trade facilitation. The agreement aims
to reduce the time required for customs procedures while promoting safe and
secure international trade.
"Data
will be exchanged electronically within the limits prescribed by national laws,
and the information shared will be used strictly in accordance with the terms
of the MoU," read the statement.
The
agreement also provides for the designation of contact officers to support
implementation. Initially, the arrangement will be applied on a pilot basis to
mutually agreed categories of goods, with a provision to extend it to all goods
at a later stage.
According
to the MoF, any disputes arising during implementation will be resolved through
mutual consultation via diplomatic channels, and the MoU may be amended by
mutual consent.
Speaking
at the signing ceremony, Bhandari emphasised the need for early implementation
of the agreement. He said the MoU would help strengthen cooperation between the
two customs administrations and enable more effective monitoring of high-risk
consignments, while facilitating faster clearance for compliant traders.
Likewise,
Chaturvedi welcomed the signing of the MoU and expressed India’s commitment to
its prompt implementation.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 January 2026.
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