Nepal to give duty-free access for 74 BD items

Nepal is expected to give duty-free access for 74 Bangladeshi products to reciprocate latter that earlier agreed to grant zero-tariff entry to 108 Nepali items, according to a source in the Bangladesh Embassy in Nepal. 'Nepalese government agreed to grant zero-tariff entry for 74 Bangladeshi products', said Khan Md. Moinul Hossain, First Secretary (Trade Promotion and Culture) of Bangladesh Embassy in Kathmandu. Hossain said the Nepalese government has shown keen interest to allow duty-free market access for Bangladeshi exportables against the latter's earlier plea for a total of 174 items. 'Our efforts are on to increase the list of 74 Bangladeshi items,' he said. 'We are optimistic that both the countries will soon sign an agreement to this end after a high-level discussion,' he hoped. The 108 Nepali goods short listed by Bangladesh for preferential treatment include lentil, vegetables, cereals, wheat, flour, fruits, juice, dairy and handmade papers. Besides, said the embassy official, Bangladesh had also proposed that Nepal should allow market access of its pharmaceuticals, garment, agro-processed food items, refrigerators and other electronics home appliances. The First Secretary said, 'Agro-processed food items being produced by Pran Company and refrigerator and other electronics home appliances manufactured by Walton are among the items in the zero-tariff list from Bangladesh side,' according to BSS.