Nepal, India to Amend Bilateral Transit Treaty to Expand Trade and Connectivity

12/08/2020

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Krishana Prasain | The Kathmandu Post

Nepal and India on Monday agreed to amend the bilateral transit treaty in a bid to boost trade and connectivity during a meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to Control Unauthorised Trade.

“As of now, only government-owned railway services transport cargo to Nepal, and under the proposed amendment, private operators will also be allowed to serve in Nepal,” said Baikuntha Aryal, secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, who led the Nepali side at the meeting held via video conference.

“The amendment will also allow Nepali railway to be used for trade purposes. We had a comprehensive review of the transit treaty that includes the use of waterways and railway services between the two countries,” he said, adding that the date for signing the amended agreement was yet to be fixed as it had to be endorsed by the cabinets of the two countries.

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