New Delhi, November 13: India and Nepal on Thursday signed a key agreement aimed at enhancing bilateral and regional trade connectivity through an expanded network of rail-based freight routes. The signing took place during a bilateral meeting between India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Nepal’s Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Anil Kumar Sinha in New Delhi.
A Letter of Exchange (LoE) amending the Protocol to the Treaty of Transit between India and Nepal was formally exchanged at the meeting. The new arrangement will facilitate the movement of both containerized and bulk rail cargo between Jogbani (India) and Biratnagar (Nepal) and extend liberalized transit facilities across key routes including Kolkata–Jogbani, Kolkata–Nautanwa (Sunauli), and Visakhapatnam–Nautanwa (Sunauli). Officials said the move will significantly strengthen multimodal trade connectivity and boost Nepal’s access to global markets through Indian ports.
The newly ratified LoE allows direct rail connectivity along the Jogbani–Biratnagar rail link for cargo transport from the ports of Kolkata and Visakhapatnam to the Nepal Customs Yard cargo station in Morang District, near Biratnagar. The 18.6 km cross-border rail link, constructed with grant assistance from the Government of India, was jointly inaugurated by the Prime Ministers of both countries on June 1, 2023.
The meeting also reviewed ongoing bilateral projects aimed at improving cross-border infrastructure, including the establishment of Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) and other trade facilitation measures. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen cooperation in transport, logistics, and investment promotion.
India remains Nepal’s largest trade and investment partner, accounting for the bulk of its external trade. Officials from both countries said the new measures would deepen economic ties, reduce trade costs, and support regional supply chain integration, benefiting businesses on both sides of the border.
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