KATHMANDU, Dec 21: The India-Nepal Center of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) successfully organized the second edition of the "India-Nepal Economic Partnership Summit 2023" at Birgunj, Nepal, in collaboration with the Consulate General of India, Birgunj, and Birgunj Chamber of Commerce & Industries (BICCI).
The summit, held on December 20, aimed to establish a crucial platform for discussions on a forward-looking bilateral economic partnership agenda.
The key discussions at the summit focused on fostering deeper economic engagement between India and Nepal, addressing challenges in remittance, imports, exports, and the Balance of Payment (BoP) situation in Nepal. The summit aimed to channelize investments between the two nations, reaffirming the importance of India-Nepal bilateral relations as a core strength of sub-regional cooperation in South Asia.
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One of the primary objectives was to open new avenues of business engagements in key economic sectors, providing a significant boost to trade near the India-Nepal border at Birgunj, a vital economic hub of Nepal.
The summit underscored the need for sustained convergence between industry and government to leverage the mutually beneficial India-Nepal bilateral relations across crucial realms. Additionally, discussions highlighted the potential of the Border Area Development Programme, emphasizing India's role in supporting the infrastructural development of Nepal's bordering districts in Bihar.
The summit facilitated talks on creating Cluster-based Economic Zones across Nepal, exploring ways to relax cross-border trade norms for sustained economic engagement. The deliberations were led by Session Chair Atul K Thakur, Secretary, India-Nepal Centre, PHDCCI, who emphasized the collaborative approach required among stakeholders to tap the rich potential and address challenges in post-pandemic times through India-Nepal economic cooperation.
Anil Kumar Agrawal, President, BICCI, highlighted Birgunj's achievements as a major trade hub and expressed the importance of such bilateral economic forums to enhance the economic ecosystem between India and Nepal.
The Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker, Devi Sahai Meena, Consul General of India, Birgunj, reassured India's commitment to accelerating economic cooperation with Nepal. The summit featured insights from key speakers representing various sectors, including Ambassador Lok Raj Baral, Jagdish Prasad Agrawal, Sanjoy Bhattacharya, Deepak Rauniar, Bikas Rauniar, Mahesh Kumar Agrawal, Ashok Kumar Baidya, Chandra Kishore, Rachana Parajuli, Rakesh Kumar Mishra, Dr Sohan Prasad Sha, Kunal Kayal, Abhishek Choudhary, and Niraj Agrawal.
The second edition of the India-Nepal Economic Partnership Summit concluded with the establishment of business linkages and partnerships, contributing to the strengthening of bilateral ties and fostering cross-border trade.
