India and Nepal signed an agreement to expand rail-based freight movement via the Jogbani–Biratnagar route, enhancing multimodal connectivity and trade between the two nations.
-1763032879731_d.png "India, Nepal ink pact to expand trade via rail route")
Piyush Goyal. File Pic
India and Nepal signed an agreement on Thursday to strengthen the movement of rail-based freight between the two neighbouring countries.
The pact will facilitate railway freight movement between Jogbani (India) and Biratnagar (Nepal), including bulk cargo under an expanded definition.
This liberalisation extends to key transit corridors- Kolkata-Jogbani, Kolkata–Nautanwa (Sunauli), and Visakhapatnam–Nautanwa (Sunauli), thereby strengthening multimodal trade connectivity between the two countries and Nepal’s trade with third countries
Both countries exchanged a Letter of Exchange amending the Protocol to the Treaty of Transit between India and Nepal, in the presence of India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and his Nepal counterpart Anil Kumar Sinha.
The Letter of Exchange enables direct rail connectivity along the Jogbani–Biratnagar rail link for both containerised and bulk cargo, facilitating transport from the ports of Kolkata and Visakhapatnam to the Nepal Customs Yard cargo station located in Morang District, near Biratnagar in Nepal.
This rail link, constructed with grant assistance from the Government of India, was jointly inaugurated by the Prime Ministers of India and Nepal on 1 June 2023.
The meeting also welcomed ongoing bilateral initiatives to enhance cross-border connectivity and trade facilitation, including the development of Integrated Check Posts and other infrastructure.
India remains Nepal’s largest trade and investment partner, accounting for a significant share of its external trade.
These new measures are expected to further consolidate economic and commercial linkages between the two countries and beyond.
The agreement comes close on the heels of India-Nepal agreements signed on Oct 29 to incorporate two joint venture entities for the development of high-capacity cross-border power transmission lines between the two countries.
The joint venture and shareholders’ agreements were signed here between Powergrid, a Maharatna Central public sector enterprise of India, and the Nepal Electricity Authority in the presence of Union Power Minister Manohar Lal and Nepal’s Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation of Nepal Kulman Ghising.
The agreements provide for the incorporation of two joint venture entities - one in India and one in Nepal - for setting up cross-border power transmission infrastructure.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
