Monday, July 30, 2012

Kathmandu-Dhaka direct bus service on cards


Nepal and Bangladesh today agreed to finalise Dhaka-Kathmandu direct bus service agreement as soon as possible and seal a deal on modalities for Carriage of Transit Cargo for trade facilitation by December, apart from finding possibilities of payment in local currencies for bilateral trade simplification.
On the second and the final day of the fourth secretary level talks that started here in Kathmandu yesterday between the two South Asian countries, both the countries signed the decisions of the bilateral trade talks, according to which Dhaka has principally agreed to provide duty free access to around 100 primary commodities and agriculture products like fruits and vegetables, according to joint secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies Naindra Prasad Upadhaya, who is also the coordinator of the technical committee of the trade talks.
The Carriage of Transit Cargo agreement will help Nepal access Chittgong and Mongla Port, he said, adding that Dhaka has also committed to improve infrastructure like road and railway at the border for the smooth transit connectivity to the Port that is a key hurdle in boosting bilateral trade.
Apart from working day and hour haromonisation on border, the technical committee will soon finalise standard of certification for quality measurement, quarantine and health hazards that will help issue uniform certification for their exports, according to the agreement.
Both the countries also agreed to ask their central banks to prepare necessary ground for the payment in the local currency that will smoothen the export.
The countries will organise single country trade fair to boost the exports between the two countries, decided the meeting.
"We have also decided to promote tourism jointly through combined tourism package," Upadhaya added. "The guests asked Nepal to import medicines from Bangladesh."
"Bangladesh has also reciprocated Nepal's move of providing visa on arrival facility to Nepalis," he said, adding that the fifth secretary level meeting will be held in Dhaka in February 2013.
Meanwhile, the Bangladeshi delegation called on caretaker Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai at the latter's office in Singha Durbar today afternoon. The eight-member team led by commerce secretary of Bangladesh Mohamed Ghulam Hussain appriased the premier of the progress on bilateral trade talks.
The guests familiarised the premier about numerous possibilities of joint projects between Nepal and Bangladesh in hydropower and tourism.
Ambassador of Nepal for Bangladesh Dr Neem Chandra Bhaumik was also present in the meeting.

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