Nepal-India agree to revise Railways Service Agreement

 Nepal and India today agreed to revise Railways Service Agreement (RSA) that has been under discussion since long.

During the meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to Control Unauthorised Trade – co-chaired by the commerce secretaries of both the countries held through video conferencing today – they discussed on amendments to the Rail Services Agreements (RSA), according to Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.

Nepal’s proposal for amendments and endorsement was taken positively by the Indian side, and will soon be finalised, the ministry confirmed. Signed in 2004, the RSA was revised in 2014, and renewed last year. The revision in RSA is expected to help simplify movement of railway cargo for trade with India and third countries.

They, on the occasion, also discussed on comprehensive reviews of the Treaty of Transit and the Treaty of Trade, measures taken for investment promotion, constitution of Joint Business Forum, harmonisation of standards as well as synchronised development of trade infrastructure on the two sides, a press note issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu reads, adding that the two sides also discussed in detail various government-level initiatives that need to be taken in future for further enhancing trade and commercial linkages.

Indian commerce secretary Anup Wadhawan was accompanied by the Indian ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra and a 15 member delegation drawn from various ministries and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, while his counterpart commerce and supplies secretary Dr Baikuntha Aryal was assisted by representatives of various ministries and departments.

The IGC is the apex bilateral mechanism for promotion of trade and investments between the two countries. “The meeting reviewed progress made on several notable agenda items in the sphere of trade and commerce,” the press note reads, adding that the Inter-Governmental Sub-Committee (IGSC) at the level of joint secretaries met on December 3-4 in the preparation for IGC meeting.

They also discussed on the bilateral dialogue were up-gradation of border customs, the establishment of Nepal-India joint commercial forum, Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA) issues, quality and standards of trade goods of both the countries and problems facing trade affairs. Likewise, the both sides have acknowledged the role of infrastructure along the cross-country border in trade promotion.

India is the largest trade and investment partner of Nepal both in terms of Nepali imports and Nepali exports. In fact, India is the only trading partner of Nepal with whom Nepali exports have consistently increased in the last two to three years. The wide-ranging discussions today and the progress made in the meeting are expected to further support the expansion in economic and commercial ties between India and Nepal.

Utilisation of resources must to make electricity affordable

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barshaman Pun said that the utilisation of available resources is a must to make electricity affordable.
Addressing Power Summit 2019 in Kathmandu today, he said that resources available in the region must be utilised to optimise power systems and reduce electricity tariff due to the varying supply and demand pattern of the individual countries in the South Asian region. He also stressed the need to upgrade bilateral cooperation to sub-regional cooperation in the form of Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN). “We shall now be working together to establish an inter-regional electricity grid interconnection,” he said, adding that energy development is crucial for Nepal’s economic development. “Nepal government is committed to attract foreign investment in the energy sector.”
Nepal will generate 5000 megawatt electricity once some of the ongoing hydropower projects are completed in couple of years. Meanwhile, Nepal's current electricity demand is only 1320 megawatt and the rest could be exported through the regional grid. Pun said that Nepal's major electricity markets are India and Bangladesh.
Around 70 experts including representatives from governmental and private sector, from India, China, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal are making their presentations during the two-day event – organised by Independent Power Producers’ Association, Nepal (IPPAN) – with the theme ‘Powering the Asian Century’. The summit is also expected to create the basis for formal and informal dialogues for propelling Nepal toward becoming an eminent producer of energy for South Asian region.
Speaking on the occasion IPPAN president Shailendra Guragain said that the future that power producers are seeking is about abundant, reliable, clean and affordable power that is traded across boundaries to help boost the local economies and the quality of life of the people.
Likewise, addressing the Power Summit, minister of State for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh Nasrul Hamid said that South Asia region was now looking for affordability after ensuring availability and reliability of energy.
He said that tariffs, terms and conditions of Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with GMR has been finalised for the import of 500 MW power to Bangladesh from 900 MW Upper Karnali Hydropower project.
Similarly, chief executive officer of GMR Energy S N Barde, on the occasion, said that his company faced hurdles in terms of regulations and other issues regarding transmission while signing the first trilateral agreement. “But they were eventually resolved,” he added.
Hydroelectricity Investment and Development Company Ltd (HIDCL), Nepal and NHPC Ltd, India, and Indian Energy Exchange and IPPAN signed separate memorandums of understanding (MoU) for development of energy sector, on the sidelines of the summit.
The event – that will close tomorrow – will feature panel discussions on regional trade and connectivity, electricity markets, necessary regulations, financing, attracting investments and sustainable practices, according to IPPAN.

Bangladesh president to visit Nepal

President of Bangladesh Md Abdul Hamid will be paying an official goodwill visit to Nepal from November 12 to 15 at the invitation of President Bidhya Devi Bhandari.
Bangladesh President Hamid will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) upon his arrival, according to a press note issued by the Foreign Ministry. “During the visit, President Hamid will meet with President Bhandari, as President Bhandari will host a banquet in honour of her counterpart and his delegation.”
Likewise, vice-president Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, chairperson of the National Assembly Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, and Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali will call on President Hamid, the press note reads, adding that senior political leaders of various political parties will also call on the president of Bangladesh. “While in Nepal, Bangladesh President Hamid will also be visiting the Lake City Pokhara and historical, archaeological and cultural sites in Kathmandu valley.”
The two countries, on the occasion, will discuss all issues of mutual interests. However, Bangladeshi media has reported that Bangladesh and Nepal will hold talks on Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement during President Hamid’s Nepal visit.
On the sidelines of the 18th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Azerbaijan on October 26, Bangladesh Prime Minister Seikh Hasina had requested Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to finalise the PTA with Nepal during President Hamid’s upcoming visit to Nepal. “The two prime ministers have reached agreement to make the BBIN agreement functional,” the Bangladeshi media reported, though the Foreign Ministry could not confirm it. 

Need should focus on strengthening regional interconnectivity

Experts suggested the need to focus on strengthening regional interconnectivity for desired development of infrastructure in Nepal.
Addressing a session ‘Infrastructure and Regional Connectivity’,  former vice chair of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Swarnim Wagle said that landlocked nations like Nepal should highly focus on development of infrastructure, interconnectivity, information and technology to generate its own assets. “The government should raise investment to bridge the development gap between cities and rural regions in Nepal," he said, adding that Asia has become the centre of global economy today. “Nepal should effectively take benefit from its strategic location in between India and China.”
According to hi, the government should reform some policy and practical issues to take advantage from this. “The government has been subject to criticism due to some plans and projects that has been introduced without enough groundwork,” he said, adding that the government should increase investment in the productive sector and focus on export of high-value price to address the ballooning trade deficit. “Nepal also needs to enhance air connectivity, execute railways plans, promote digital economy, ensure market for energy along with increasing production of electricity.”
Nepal also should make its presence in regional forums like SAARC, BIMSTEC, BBIN and BRI among others and take benefits, according to him.
Speaking on the occasion, former general manager at World Bank (WB) Noritada Morita said that interconnectivity is the current need of South Asia. "Prior to this, peace was important agenda in South Asia,” he said, adding that the need of South Asian nations today is, however, development of infrastructure and raise per capita income of people.
Likewise, secretary at the Foreign Ministry Shankar Das Bairagi claimed that Nepal has enhanced trade relationship with neighbouring countries in the recent years. “The government is also expanding its network among regional forums to enhance power connectivity, interconnectivity of transmission line, telecommunication, railways, waterways and airways," he informed.
Informing that the government has prepared long-term action plan to develop the energy sector, energy secretary Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, on the occasion, appealed investors to invest in the hydropower. He also said that Nepal will start exporting energy to neighbouring nations in the near future.

Nepal and Bhutan to sign trade agreement

Nepal is planning to sign a trade agreement with Bhutan hoping to expand trade between the two countries.
According to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Kathmandu and Thimpu are holding a series of joint secretary-level meetings starting from August 29 to discuss a trade protocol, after a Bhutanese delegation arrives in Kathmandu.
Though, both the countries are members of various multilateral trade regimes including South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMST-EC) and Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN), they have not yet signed any bilateral trade agreement till date.
They will discuss ways to simplify trade barriers and finalise the rules of origin (RoO) before signing the trade protocol, according to the ministry. “Nepal will ask Bhutan to provide duty-free access to local products with a value addition of 25 per cent and above under the rules of origin,” the ministry informed. But Nepal is, currently, receiving preferential treatment from a number of countries on exportable goods that have a minimum 30 per cent to 40 per cent value addition.
Nepal has signed trade agreements with 17 countries including India, China, Bangladesh, South Korea, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the US and Mongolia. And Nepal has also signed bilateral preferential treatment arrangement with India while it receives preferential treatment from China, the US and European countries.
China provides duty-free, quota-free access to more than 8,000 Nepali products, though Nepal does not produces most of the products in the list. Likewise, the US also offers access to 77 tariff lines under the Trade Preference Programme (TPP), while the European Union (EU) provides duty-free access to products imported from the least developed countries (LDCs) including Nepal under the ‘Everything but Arms’ scheme. But Nepal has very few products to export to these countries, as the country is import-based economy and has never promoted exports.
Nepal has not been able to exploit the preferential treatments from trading partners also due to lack of exportable items. Thus, signing the trade agreement with Bhutan also seems not beneficial to Nepal as Nepal has not much to offer to Bhutan either.
Likewise, Bhutan is a small market dependent on imports from India and Bangladesh. Nepal will have to compete with Indian and Bangladeshi products in the Bhutanese market. Nepali products have been not able to compete with Indian, and thus the Nepal-Bhutan trade agreement could not bear much expected benefit for Nepal. “If Nepal needs to take advantage, Nepal and Bhutan must enter into a transport agreement first to benefit from bilateral trade,” according to trade experts.
Nepal will also have to provide similar facility to Bhutanese products on a reciprocal basis after signing a trade agreement with Bhutan, which might not be in Nepal's favour as it has been facing a widening trade deficit even with this SAARC member country.
Nepal has been facing a growing trade deficit with Bhutan, according to the Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC). “Nepal exported goods worth Rs 162 million to Bhutan against imports of Rs 1.67 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of Rs 1.51 billion,” the TEPC data revealed, adding that the trade deficit with Bhutan stood at Rs 284.41 million in the fiscal year 2014-15.
Nepal imports gypsum, coal, heavy equipment, boring machinery, juice and industrial equipment, among others, from Bhutan, whereas it exports iron rods and alloy of aluminium, transformer, snack, soap, furniture, woollen carpet, farm products, jute bag and cooking appliances to Bhutan.

BBIN will help diversify Nepal’s trade

Though, there is still some confusion over the implementation, the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicle Agreement (BBIN-MVA) will not only help increase intraregional trade in the South Asia but also key to diversify Nepal’s trade in the South Asian region apart from easing trading activities, according to experts.
Even four years after Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal signed a motor vehicles agreement to facilitate the seamless movement of cargo and passengers cross borders, there has hardly been any progress to sign the protocol, which experts and analysts say is causing losses to Nepal.
“Studies has indicated that BBIN-MVA will potentially boost intraregional trade within South Asia by almost 60 per cent and with the rest of the world by 30 per cent,” said a trade expert and former joint secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Rabi Shankar Sainju, presenting a paper at an interaction organised by South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics an Environment (SAWTEE), in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), in the Valley today.
“Intraregional trade accounts for a little more than 5 per cent of South Asia’s total trade, compared with 50 per cent in East Asia and the Pacific and 22 per cent in Sub-Saharan Africa,” he said, further elaborating on benefits to Nepal from the MVA including seamless connectivity, enhanced movement of containerised cargo, reduction in trade costs, transparency and uniformity in cross border practices, development of economic corridors, and improved people-to-people contact resulting in increased tourism and trade in services.
Sainju also pointed out that the reduction in trade costs could be as much as 30 per cent and recommended that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) be signed to implement the BBIN-MVA amongst three countries on a provisional basis.
Nepal's export shipments can directly enter Bangladesh without the cumbersome process of transloading at the border, and Nepal's cargo vehicles can carry export or transit cargo to the dry ports and ports in India and bring back India’s export cargo to Nepal or transit cargo from Indian ports, after Nepal implements BBIN-MVA, he argued.
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal in June 2015 had signed a framework agreement for the regulation of passenger and cargo vehicular movement among these countries in a bid to enhance regional economic integration through transport and transit facilitation. However, further processes to operationalise the MVA, was stalled after Bhutan’s upper house failed to ratify the agreement. The other three countries – including Nepal, Bangladesh and India – are now exploring, with Bhutan’s consent, ways to move ahead with the agreement, as Bhutan's consent has been received, though Bhutan’s upper house did not ratify the agreement.
The BBIN was a concept floated by India as a sub-regional connectivity project after Pakistan’s reservations over a similar motor vehicles agreement under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The MVA was one of the items on the agenda of the 18th SAARC Summit, held in Kathmandu in November 2014. The BBIN-MVA allows vehicles in any member countries to cross borders without hassles along the agreed routes. In doing so, the MVA gets rid of the cumbersome process of transloading and allows the entry of vehicles all the way to ICD, thus mitigating border congestion and reducing both time and trade cost.
The chief guest of the programme vice chair of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Prof Dr Puspa Raj Kadel, on the occasion, suggested conducting pilot programmes along certain routes for a few months, the experience obtained from which could be used to enhance the draft protocol of the MVA. “The MVA is crucial for expanding the trade relationship between member countries and needs to be executed soon,” he said.
Likewise, director at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Ronald Antonio Butiong noted that the MVA would help reduce transshipment at the border, thereby leading to reduced logistics cost. However, he mentioned that there are misconceptions about the MVA, which he hoped the workshop was able to clarify. “For example, the MVA implementation would not result in a ‘free for all’ in cross-border transport operations,” according to him. “The MVA has restrictions on number of permitted vehicles, allowable routes and border crossing points and technical specifications of vehicles,” he said, adding that foreign transport operators will also not be allowed to conduct domestic transport in the host country.
He, on the occasion, also acknowledged that there are concerns among stakeholders, which may be addressed through refinements in the MVA’s implementing protocols that will soon be negotiated.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) is an important partner in this endeavour as BBIN-MVA is a priority initiative under the transport facilitation pillar of the ADB's South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Trade Facilitation Strategic Framework, now subsumed under the SASEC Operational Plan. It is also one of the major accomplishments under SASEC as it is the first official instrument to be signed by the Ministers of participating countries.
Likewise, secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, on the occasion, emphasised that connectivity is Nepal’s priority. “The ministry has advocated for implementation of the MVA after certain ambiguities in the agreement are clarified in the protocols,” he said, adding that the charges and fees provisioned by the agreement, however, must not be so high as to impede movement and the provision of search and inspection must not be used in a way resulting in excessive checks. “The agreement should allay the concerns of our transport and logistics businesspersons.”
“The BBIN-MVA can open avenues for alternative routes and ports for overseas trade and unhindered movement of cargo and passenger vehicles to third countries through India,” chairman of SAWTEE Dr Posh Raj Pandey, said, underscoring that the ambiguities in the agreement can be and should be clarified in the Protocol.
Stressing the need for improved connectivity, the participants, on the occasion, highlighted some possible practical problems like lack of harmonisation regarding load factors, ambiguities in the provision of permit and transit fees and charges, the disparity in the cost of vehicles among the countries, and possible environmental concerns, addressing which will make the BBIN-MVA’s implementation beneficial to all the parties, resulting in seamless connectivity.
Joint Secretary at Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport – who led Nepali delegate at the MVA negotiations – Gopal Prasad Sigdel, chairperson at Road Transport and Transit Committee (FNCCI) Ashok Kumar Temani, and former secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies Naindra Upadhyaya, also emphasised the need to implement the BBIN-MVA through signing the protocol agreements, after quickly clarifying some ambiguities and addressing concerns of the private sector.
Once Bangladesh, India, and Nepal finalise and sign these two protocols, the BBIN-MVA will formally operationalise, they added.
“Nepal will not benefit until the protocol incorporates inland waterways and railways, apart from trucks and passenger vehicles,” former commerce secretary Naindra Prasad Upadhyaya.
“With SAARC increasingly sidelined, the BBIN-MVA could offer an alternative platform for regional trade,” according to former under secretary-general of the United Nations Gyan Chandra Acharya. “It could help reduce logistics costs on trade, which are significantly higher in the South Asian region,” he said, adding that however, there are concerns, especially from the private sector, given how existing trade and transit treaties and agreements with India have been less than satisfactory.
Although Nepal and India have consented bilaterally to seamless vehicular movement, actual practice is less than smooth. Currently, Indian passenger and personal vehicles are given permits at border customs points while Nepali vehicles have to receive permission from the Embassy of India in Kathmandu to travel on Indian lands.
“Nepal has failed to benefit from a number of agreements signed with India,” according to chairperson of the Road Transport and Transit Committee of the FNCCI Ashok Temani. “Although Nepal and India have a trade and transit treaty, railway service agreement and a cargo agreement in place, they have failed to benefit Nepal,” he said, adding that poor infrastructure, poverty along the border areas, and a failure to implement necessary laws are among the primary obstacles to ensuring the free movement of vehicles and passengers cross the Nepal-India border.
“As Nepal and India share multiple entry and exit points along the border, the country will have a tough time enforcing cabotage restrictions,” said trade analyst Purushottam Ojha. “Cabotage rights allow a company from one country to trade in another country.”
Ojha also underscored the need to address transit and transport fees, visa facilitations, currency exchanges, and access to inland container depots to the member countries. “Until these issues are resolved, things will not move in the right direction, despite the agreement,” said Ojha.
The BBIN-MVA trial runs – for instance, cargo trial from Kolkata to Agartala in 2015 and from Dhaka to Delhi in 2016, and passenger bus trial from Khulna to Kolkata in 2016 and from Dhaka to Kathmandu in 2018 – offer evidence for the viability of the perceived benefits of the MVA.

Nepal-India partnership summit to promote cross border trade

Progress Harmony For Development Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) and Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi is organising ‘India-Nepal Economic Partnership Summit’ on Friday at Gangtok in Sikkim.
PHDCCI – under aegis of its India-Nepal Centre (INC) / State Development Council (SDC) and in association with the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi – is organising ‘India-Nepal Economic Partnership Summit’ to explore the trade and investment opportunities and to participate in the economic development of both India’s Northeast Region and Nepal, according to the organizer.
The summit will focus on the sectors where India-Nepal co-operation can be further boosted through proactive and sublime ‘East Connection’ to achieve the desired goals for Nepal’s economic development  from tourism to agriculture and food processing, energy, infrastructure, healthcare, education, skill development  and start-ups to services, according to deputy secretary and coordinator SDC, India Nepal Centre, Atul K Thakur.
The summit aims at hosting the key industry and government stakeholders from both the countries who are either already involved with the industrial development of Nepal or have genuine urge to be part of it. “Also, the Summit will facilitate two-ways investment opportunities between India and Nepal through sensitising the Indian industry and investors – especially those located in India’s Northeast and neighbouring countries – and Nepalese counterparts to come in term with the strong possibilities that Nepal offers unwaveringly for businesses and investments,” he added.
PHDCCI has been closely working with the Government of Nepal and the leading industry bodies of Nepal. Likewise, PHDCCI’s India-Nepal Centre promotes two-way bilateral economic and business relations between India and Nepal.
Former Indian Ambassador to Nepal K V Rajan is the chair of India-Nepal Centre and Atul K Thakur is its coordinator, whereas vice president of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) Nirvana Chaudhary is the chair of Centre’s Nepal Chapter.
The summit also aims at bringing closer the policymakers in government and industry captains to discuss and ideate for the way forward and broaden the base of Nepalese economy through next-wave of economic and governance reforms. It will also explore the potential of road, railway and air networks in Nepal and ‘common factors’ and leveraging on the same for attracting investment from Northeast and India at large, Thakur said, adding that the summit will also bring-in to notice the hidden potential in Border Area Development Programme and paving the way for India’s major involvement in helping the infrastructural facelift of Nepal’s bordering districts in West Bengal and Bihar – and making them the gateways of Northeast-Nepal Trade Connection. “It will also discuss and ideate for making Cluster-based Economic Zones across Nepal.”
Through the summit, the efforts are being made to create and sustain a framework of deeper regional and sub-regional economic cooperation, informed Thakur.
The summit – that has Karobar National Economic Daily as its media partner – will also have sessions on 'Promoting Industry in Nepal, Revisiting Bilateral Trade Policies, Expanding Sub-regional Cooperation, Border Area Development, MSMEs, Destination Sikkim, SAARC, BBIN and BCIM' and 'Policy Reforms and Ease of Doing Business in Nepal, Sectoral Possibilities in Nepal, Channelising Investment (both-ways) for Industrial Development in Nepal and Northeast (with special reference to Sikkim).

Third edition of NBBF on Thursday

Third edition of Nepal-Bangladesh Business Forum (NBBF) is sell set to begin on Thursday March 28. The NBBF has been proved a best platform for promoting and strengthening bilateral cooperation between two crucial members of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
A joint endeavor of Kathmandu-based think tank Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) and Embassy of Bangladesh in Kathmandu, the theme of NBBF this year is ‘Navigating the Next Phase of Socioeconomic Cooperation.' The third NBBF focuses on two major issues; strengthening media cooperation and expanding multimodal connectivity.
Economic and commercial cooperation between two countries is growing over the years. This is high potential for expanding and diversifying economic and trade relation between two countries. There is a huge potential between two countries on energy cooperation as two countries signed a cooperation agreement in the energy sector – last August – which is expected to pave the way for the export of electricity.
Moreover, media cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh is vital for fostering trade and economic relations, strengthening transport and energy connectivity, promoting tourism, educational collaboration and people-to-people contact, enhancing bilateral cooperation in common platforms like SAARC, BIMSTEC, BBIN , exchanging the respective climate policy paradigms (CPPs) among others.
According to the AIDIA, energy minister Barsha Man Pun will be the chief gust of the programme. Other prominent guests are former communication minister Mohan Bahadur Basent, ambassador of Bangladesh to Nepal Mashfee Binte Shams, transport secretary Madhusudan Adhikari, former foreign secretary Madhu Raman Acharya, deputy director general Department of Road Keshab Kumar Sharma,  spokesperson Bibeksheel Sajha Party Dr Surya Raj Acharya, chief economist at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) Golam Rasul, former executive director at the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board (NITDB)  Laxman Bahadur Basnet and editors of the prominent dailies.
"In-depth and on-the-spot media coverage will promote the better understanding of the matters of mutual bilateral concern and there are ample of such common concerns between Nepal and Bangladesh,” said founder and CEO of AIDIA Sunil KC. "The third NBBF intends to hold the intense discourse involving policymakers and government officials, business executives, media practitioners, scholars, academicians among others."