KATHMANDU: Nepal’s Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, met with his Indian counterpart, Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, in New Delhi on Tuesday to strengthen bilateral trade ties and explore investment opportunities.
Held at the Parliament House, the meeting focused on key issues of mutual interest, including trade facilitation, investment promotion, and the amendment of the transit treaty.
Minister Bhandari called for India’s support in streamlining the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification process for Nepali exports such as cement, plywood, and footwear.
“The discussions were constructive, with both sides agreeing to work towards revising the transit treaty to enhance trade facilitation,” said Tarkaraj Bhatta, Under-Secretary at Nepal’s Bilateral Trade and Transit Branch, who accompanied the delegation.
The ministers also agreed to convene a Commerce Secretary-level meeting in Nepal soon to accelerate trade and transit negotiations, signaling progress in fostering regional connectivity and economic integration.
Minister Bhandari spoke about Nepal’s untapped investment potential and urged Minister Goyal to encourage Indian businesses to explore opportunities in Nepal, citing the country’s recently improved investment climate.
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