Nepal, Bangladesh agree on comprehensive trade issues
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Bangladesh agreed in principle to have Rohanpur as entry-and-exist point for transit to Nepal and conduct bilateral trade traffic by rail between the two countries through fulfilment of necessary formalities, reports UNB.
The agreement came in response to a request from Nepal at trade talks that concluded in Kathmandu Monday with a package deal on ways and means of enhancing bilateral trade.
Both sides agreed to take up the matters related to full-fledged operation of Kakarbhita-Panirtanki-Phulbari-Banglabandh corridor with the government of India in view of the existing difficulties faced in operation of transit to and from Bangladesh on the route through Indian territory.
"In this connection, both sides agreed to explore ways and means of an uninterrupted access of Nepalese cargo vehicles to and from the Banglabandh landport," said a message from the Nepalese capital.
The two sides reviewed the agreement on the operating modalities of movement of cargo/vehicles, and agreed to finalise it in the near future. "Nepalese bilateral trade as well as the third-country trade of Nepal is hampered in the absence of the agreement."
Discussion also took place on agreement on 'regulation of passenger traffic between Bangladesh and Nepal'.
At the secretary-level meeting, the two sides agreed on various trade issues including exchange of information and further exploring investment opportunities for greater economic linkages between the two countries.
The commerce secretary-level bilateral consultation, which commenced Saturday, concluded Monday at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu. Commerce Secretary Feroz Ahmed led the Bangladesh delegation, while Industry, Commerce and Supplies Officiating Secretary Purushottam Ojha led the Nepalese side.
About the Nepalese request for preferential tariff reduction/duty-free access of some agricultural and primary products like lentils, tea, large cardamom, pulses, vegetables and fruits to Bangladesh market, the Bangladesh delegation said there was significant progress on these issues.
As there is no import duty now on rice and lentils/pulses, the delegation urged Nepal to avail of the opportunity of exporting the products.
A wish list for preferential tariff reduction will also be forwarded to Nepal from Bangladesh "within the shortest possible time".
Both the delegations agreed to form working groups to discuss the issues of preferential tariff reduction and prepare its modalities.
The Nepalese side took note of the problems in connection with registration of Bangladeshi products and long-term renewable business visa for businessmen relating to export of pharmaceuticals products from Bangladesh to Nepal and would bring the issues to the notice of the authority concerned.
Bangladesh side took note of the Nepalese request to allow acrylic yarn and marbles to enter Bangladesh through land route.
Both the sides emphasised the need for improved infrastructural facilities in the vicinity of airports and landports on their respective sides to facilitate movement of perishable goods, particularly agricultural products, by air cargo and landports.
The meeting agreed to encourage investors on both sides to further explore investment opportunities for greater economic linkages between the two countries.
Both the sides agreed to organise single-country trade fairs and participate in the trade fairs organised in the two countries by rotation.
It was agreed that the Trade and Export Promotion Centre of Nepal and the Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh would be instructed to work together in this connection.
The meeting agreed to encourage exchange of more visits and collaboration among the private-sector entities and chambers of commerce of the two countries.
Both the sides agreed to make joint efforts to promote tourism in both the countries. The Nepalese side took note of the Bangladesh proposal for reducing the permit fees for the Bangladeshi mountaineers who are exploring the mountains in the Himalayan country.
A Nepalese proposal for the need for harmonisation of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and technical barriers to trade (TBI) measures for facilitation of bilateral trade and forming a joint committee to look into the issues of accreditation, harmonisation and mutual recognition of certification of quarantine, food safety, standards and other related measures came up for the discussion.
It was agreed that the next secretary-level meeting would be held in Dhaka in 2008 at a date convenient to both the sides.
The Bangladesh delegation paid a courtesy call on Nepalese Minister for Finance Ram Sharan Mahat and Minister for Home Affairs and Industries, Commerce and Supplies Krishna Prasad Situla Sunday evening and apprised them of the outcome of the commerce secretary-level talks. They also exchanged views on other bilateral issues.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Imtiaz Ahmed was present during the meetings.
The agreement came in response to a request from Nepal at trade talks that concluded in Kathmandu Monday with a package deal on ways and means of enhancing bilateral trade.
Both sides agreed to take up the matters related to full-fledged operation of Kakarbhita-Panirtanki-Phulbari-Banglabandh corridor with the government of India in view of the existing difficulties faced in operation of transit to and from Bangladesh on the route through Indian territory.
"In this connection, both sides agreed to explore ways and means of an uninterrupted access of Nepalese cargo vehicles to and from the Banglabandh landport," said a message from the Nepalese capital.
The two sides reviewed the agreement on the operating modalities of movement of cargo/vehicles, and agreed to finalise it in the near future. "Nepalese bilateral trade as well as the third-country trade of Nepal is hampered in the absence of the agreement."
Discussion also took place on agreement on 'regulation of passenger traffic between Bangladesh and Nepal'.
At the secretary-level meeting, the two sides agreed on various trade issues including exchange of information and further exploring investment opportunities for greater economic linkages between the two countries.
The commerce secretary-level bilateral consultation, which commenced Saturday, concluded Monday at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu. Commerce Secretary Feroz Ahmed led the Bangladesh delegation, while Industry, Commerce and Supplies Officiating Secretary Purushottam Ojha led the Nepalese side.
About the Nepalese request for preferential tariff reduction/duty-free access of some agricultural and primary products like lentils, tea, large cardamom, pulses, vegetables and fruits to Bangladesh market, the Bangladesh delegation said there was significant progress on these issues.
As there is no import duty now on rice and lentils/pulses, the delegation urged Nepal to avail of the opportunity of exporting the products.
A wish list for preferential tariff reduction will also be forwarded to Nepal from Bangladesh "within the shortest possible time".
Both the delegations agreed to form working groups to discuss the issues of preferential tariff reduction and prepare its modalities.
The Nepalese side took note of the problems in connection with registration of Bangladeshi products and long-term renewable business visa for businessmen relating to export of pharmaceuticals products from Bangladesh to Nepal and would bring the issues to the notice of the authority concerned.
Bangladesh side took note of the Nepalese request to allow acrylic yarn and marbles to enter Bangladesh through land route.
Both the sides emphasised the need for improved infrastructural facilities in the vicinity of airports and landports on their respective sides to facilitate movement of perishable goods, particularly agricultural products, by air cargo and landports.
The meeting agreed to encourage investors on both sides to further explore investment opportunities for greater economic linkages between the two countries.
Both the sides agreed to organise single-country trade fairs and participate in the trade fairs organised in the two countries by rotation.
It was agreed that the Trade and Export Promotion Centre of Nepal and the Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh would be instructed to work together in this connection.
The meeting agreed to encourage exchange of more visits and collaboration among the private-sector entities and chambers of commerce of the two countries.
Both the sides agreed to make joint efforts to promote tourism in both the countries. The Nepalese side took note of the Bangladesh proposal for reducing the permit fees for the Bangladeshi mountaineers who are exploring the mountains in the Himalayan country.
A Nepalese proposal for the need for harmonisation of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and technical barriers to trade (TBI) measures for facilitation of bilateral trade and forming a joint committee to look into the issues of accreditation, harmonisation and mutual recognition of certification of quarantine, food safety, standards and other related measures came up for the discussion.
It was agreed that the next secretary-level meeting would be held in Dhaka in 2008 at a date convenient to both the sides.
The Bangladesh delegation paid a courtesy call on Nepalese Minister for Finance Ram Sharan Mahat and Minister for Home Affairs and Industries, Commerce and Supplies Krishna Prasad Situla Sunday evening and apprised them of the outcome of the commerce secretary-level talks. They also exchanged views on other bilateral issues.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Imtiaz Ahmed was present during the meetings.