Kathmandu, Aug. 22: Nepal and India agreed to continue upgradation and maintenance of infrastructure and logistic facilities at major border crossing-points for facilitating trade and transit between the two countries.
The fifth meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission on Wednesday in the Capital consented to early conclusion of the review of treaties and agreements related to the trade, transit and rail services. The meeting is co-chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and his Indian counterpart Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
The two countries were also reviewing the Trade and Transit treaties and Railway Service Agreement and infrastructures like cross-border railway, Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) and dry ports to facilitate the movement of goods and people.
Poor border infrastructure including container depot, laboratories, customs and quarantine facilities and cumbersome processes have increased the time and cost of trade for Nepal thus making Nepali products less competitive in the international markets.
Earlier, Special Secretary (Logistics) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India N. Sivasailam had said last month that the southern neighbour was positive in allowing the Nepali importers to change the freight destination point at the Nepal-India border. He had also expressed commitment to resolve the issues related to documentation and logistics in Nepal’s trade with third countries as well.
Gyawali and Jaishankar emphasised the importance of tourism in socio-economic development and agreed to enhance their cooperation in tourism sector, particularly in the context of Visit of Nepal year 2020.
India has also agreed to provide additional air entry routes to Nepal. The two countries expressed hope that the discussion, which were underway between the civil aviation authorities of the two countries would yield positive results.
The Joint Commission expressed satisfaction over progress in three new areas – Raxaul-Kathmandu Electrified Rail Line, Inland Waterways and New Partnership in Agriculture - agreed during the visit of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to India in April 2018, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
The meeting noted that inundation was a serious problem for people living in border areas and underlined the need for addressing the issue due to inadequate drainage provisions that obstructed the natural flow of water across the border.
“The Joint Commission agreed to take action on the recommendations made by a joint tam comprising official from both side who had visited twice the inundation prone areas along Nepal-India border and continue monitoring of those areas,” said the MoFA.
The meeting deliberated on connectivity and economic partnership, trade and transit, power and water resources sectors, culture and education. It also exchanged views on Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India Relations and Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950.
It expressed happiness over the momentum generated in the overall aspects of Nepal-India relations following the exchange of high-level visits in the past two years.
According to the MoFA, the Joint Commission expressed happiness at the progress made in the bilateral projects, such as Motihari-Amlekhgunj Petroleum Products Pipeline, four segments of Hulaki Roads, and post-earthquake reconstruction of private housing in Nuwakot and Gorkha districts.
It expressed happiness over progress made in Jayanagar-Janakpur and Jogbani-Biratnagar sections of cross-border railway projects and Integrated Check Post in Biratnagar. The Joint Commission agreed to expedite the early completion of remaining agreed projects.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on food safety and standards.
Likewise, India handed over a cheque of 807.1 million Indian Rupees (Rs. 1.29 billion) to support the construction of the Postal Highway in Terai. India had committed Rs. 8 billion support to Nepal for the Postal Highway. Four packages of the highway are ready for inauguration.
India also handed over a cheque of Rs. 2.45 billion to the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) for the reconstruction of private houses in Gorkha and Nuwakot districts. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri handed over the cheque to the NRA Chief Executive Officer Sushil Gyawali.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Gyawali and his Indian counterpard Dr. Jaishankar witnessed the handing over of the cheques and signing of the MoU.
Dr. Jaishankar paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. He had warm and in-depth conversation with the PM, tweeted Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. He is scheduled to pay a courtesy call to President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Thursday.
The External Affairs Minister of India is scheduled to depart for New Delhi on Thursday.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 August 2019.
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