The India-Nepal Inter-Governmental Sub-Committee on Trade, Transit and Cooperation met in New Delhi on September 16 and 17, 2026, reviewing a wide range of bilateral trade and connectivity issues.
The India-Nepal Inter-Governmental Sub-Committee on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to Control Unauthorised Trade convened at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, on September 16 and 17, 2026. The Indian delegation was led by Ujjwal Kumar Ghosh, Joint Secretary of the Department of Commerce, Government of India, while the Nepali delegation was led by Buddha Bahadur Gurung, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Government of Nepal. The meeting covered a wide range of issues relating to market access, customs and trade facilitation, standards, food safety, phytosanitary measures, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, AYUSH products, border infrastructure and rail and road connectivity.
Both sides discussed measures to facilitate greater market access for agricultural products, dairy, food products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and AYUSH products, alongside strengthening customs cooperation including pre-arrival exchange of information, electronic verification of Certificates of Origin and customs automation and digitalisation. Transit and connectivity formed an important part of the discussions, with both sides reviewing rail and road connectivity, movement of freight, Integrated Check Posts and land-port infrastructure, with a focus on improving utilisation of existing infrastructure and addressing operational bottlenecks. Both sides also welcomed continued cooperation in standards, food safety, plant quarantine and conformity assessment, including institutional cooperation and capacity-building initiatives. Both sides emphasised continued cooperation between relevant agencies to facilitate legitimate cross-border trade and address issues relating to unauthorised trade and commercial fraud, and agreed to maintain close engagement through established institutional mechanisms and pursue time-bound follow-up on issues requiring further technical examination. India remains Nepal’s largest trading partner and an important source of investment.
Source: Press Information Bureau
