The meeting of India-Nepal Inter-Governmental Committee on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to Control Unauthorised Trade was held on 28-29 June 2016 at New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by Ms. Rita Teaotia, Commerce Secretary, Government of India while the Nepalese delegation was led by Mr. Naindra Prasad Upadhaya, Commerce Secretary, Government of Nepal.

The Committee reviewed the status of bilateral trade between the two countries. The issues raised in the last IGC meeting held on Dec 21-22, 2013 in Kathmandu were reviewed and it was noted that many of the issues have already been resolved while there was substantial progress on others. The Committee also discussed new issues pertaining to trade, transit, infrastructure and investments, and agreed to resolve bottlenecks to bolster bilateral trade. It was also agreed to work out modalities for constitution of a India-Nepal Joint Business Forum and enhance the scope of the IGC to discuss wider economic cooperation.

Both sides agreed to hold the next meeting in Nepal.

Bilateral trade cooperation: parties agreed to resolve trade and transit bottlenecks and form a joint business forum. The Inter Governmental Committee reviewed outstanding bilateral trade matters, noting several issues resolved and substantial progress on others, and identified new issues concerning trade, transit, infrastructure and investment. The Committee agreed to resolve procedural and logistical bottlenecks to strengthen trade flows, to broaden its scope for wider economic cooperation, and to work out modalities for a Joint Business Forum, with the next meeting to be held in Nepal.