Operational modalities for the carriage of transit cargo between Bangladesh and Nepal will figure in the commerce-secretary level meeting beginning in Kathmandu on May 30, officials said.
Besides, the meeting will also review the agreement on regulation of motor vehicles passenger traffic (Dhaka-Kathmandu service) and removal of high tariff and non-tariff barriers and simplification of administration procedures.
This will be the fourth commerce secretary-level meeting between the two countries.
"We will discuss operational modalities for the carriage of transit cargo, regulation of motor vehicles passenger traffic and removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers and simplification of administration procedures during the meeting in Kathmandu," an additional secretary of the commerce ministry told the FE.
The meeting will also review the progress of the agreed minutes of the third commerce secretary-level meeting, he said, adding that Bangladesh will also lay emphasis on enhancing truck and railway connectivity between the two countries.
Besides, issues regarding development of infrastructure along the agreed transit routes and land customs stations, formation of joint customs and harmonisation of SPS and TBT standards between the competent authorities of Bangladesh and Nepal, such as BSTI-NBSM, DAE-DoA and DAE-DFTQC, will come up for discussion.
Other issues that will be highlighted during the meeting are simplification of the export procedures for pharmaceuticals products both in Nepal and Bangladesh, promotion of tourism between Bangladesh and Nepal, air connectivity between Birampur/Bhadrapur in Nepal and Sayedpur in Bangladesh, participation in international trade fair of each other countries, cooperation in hydropower and cooperation between Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) and Public Trading Corporation in Nepal/Salt Trading Corporation.
The commerce ministry official said Nepal might seek issuance of visa-on-arrival for Nepali citizens and long-term visa for Nepali students studying in Bangladesh.
The two sides will also recommend issuing long-term visas for businesspeople of Nepal and Bangladesh.
The two countries will also discuss the signing of bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement, said the official.
Meanwhile, the commerce ministry will hold a preparatory meeting on May 24 ahead of the Kathmandu meeting.
Nepal, a land-locked country, is just 40 km away from Banglabandha in Bangladesh but the cargos have to wait for hours to pass the route, businessmen said.
Transportation is one of the major barriers to bilateral trade between the two South Asian countries, as both the countries' cargos carrying goods have to cross neighbouring India to reach their destinations.
As per a trilateral accord signed in 1998, Bangladesh and Nepal have been using the Kakarbhitta-Fulbari-Bangalabandha route, the shortest route between the countries through India, for their bilateral trade.
"The government should take steps soon to resolve the problems we face. The government to government (G 2 G) initiatives should be taken to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers," President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Abul Kasem Khan told the FE.
Bangladesh exports agricultural products, chemical, raw materials, medicine, ready-made garments, jute products, plastic products, leather products, cosmetics, fabric, potato, milk powder, biscuits, raw juice, tube light and lubricants to Nepal and imports tobacco products and vegetables.
Bangladesh exported goods to Nepal amounting to US$1,78,80,000 and imported goods worth $94,30,000 during the 2015-16 fiscal year, according to data of the Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau.
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