In a meeting at the ongoing 10th WTO Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, Bangladesh and Nepal have reportedly agreed to complete all bilateral trade-related agreements to boost trade between two the South Asian neighbours.
Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and his Nepali counterpart, Minister for Commerce and Supplies Ganeshman Pun have reportedly agreed to boost trade between the two countries with Pun recalling Bangladesh’s support to the earthquake victims of Nepal and extended his sincere thanks to the Bangladesh Government for the gesture of friendship and cooperation.
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According to a statement issued by the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations in Geneva, the Nepalese Minister also briefed his Bangladeshi counterpart about the difficulties faced by his country due to alleged obstruction of cargo vehicles at the southern border, and efforts made to improve the current supply situation.
“The two ministers agreed to complete all bilateral trade and related agreements which are at various stages of negotiation as early as possible,” the statement underlined.
According to the Trade and Exports Promotion Centre of Nepal, Bangladesh is the second biggest market for Nepalese products. In 2012-13, Nepal exported lentils worth Rs2.71 billion to Bangladesh. However, Nepal which has been enjoying a surplus in trade with Bangladesh since 2004-05 for the first time in 10 years in 2014-15, reportedly recorded a trade deficit with Bangladesh due to a fall in the export of lentils.
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During the meeting, Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed reportedly described Nepal as good friend from the SAARC region and assured the Nepali minister that Bangladesh would be ready to cooperate with Nepal at all times.
