Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Nepal, Bangladesh talk hydropower development, trade facilitation

Bangladesh has expressed willingness to invest in 20 hydropower projects in Nepal.
During the fourth meeting of the Nepal-Bangladesh Technical Committee for promotion of trade – held in Kathmandu today – both the countries are also positive on simplifying existing issues related to tariff and non-tariff barriers (NTB). Likewise, Nepal has asked Bangladesh to allow the export of local cardamom, yarn and broom grass (amriso) without facing any hurdles to be sold in Bangladesh. “Likewise, Nepal also put forth providing easy access to Nepali agricultural products including fruits to trade in the Bangladeshi market,” according to an official, who took part in the meeting.
“Apart from the trade issues, Bangladeshi officials also shown keen interest in investing in hydropower projects in Nepal,” according to the official.
The power-hungry Bangladesh has been consistently showing interest to invest in Nepal’s energy projects but Nepal has not been able to provide a project despite rounds of talks. However, both the countries agreed to trade power through India's transmission network, in a recently held secretary-level meeting between energy officials in Dhaka. Four months after the secretary-level meeting between Nepali and Bangladeshi energy officials, who agreed to trade power through India's transmission network, the three countries – Nepal, India and Bangladesh – are also holding talks on using the Indian grid to transfer electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh.
The seventh Joint Steering Committee meeting on Nepal-India Cooperation, which concluded last week has decided to hold a tripartite meeting within three months to move forward.
The two countries – during the meeting that is led by joint secretary at the Navaraj Dhakal and joint secretary at the Bangladeshi Ministry of Commerce Sharifa Khan – also discussed easing the movement of passenger vehicles across the borders, operation of direct bus service from Kathmandu to Dhaka as well as cargo supplies between the two SAARC nations. Bangladesh is also positive on providing easy access to Nepali cargo vehicles in the seaport of Bangladesh for third-country trade.
They also discussed ‘air route’ in order to operate air service to Bangladesh from the eastern part of Nepal, though the bilateral trade talks mainly focused on materialising the five memorandam of understanding (MoU) – including the trading of farm products and food items – signed between the two countries earlier, apart from extensive discuss on ways to reduce Nepal’s trade deficit with Bangladesh.
Moreover, trilateral transit agreement between Nepal, Bangladesh and India, harmonisation of sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical barriers to trade measures between competent authorities of Nepal and Bangladesh were also on the agenda.

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