Finance
The India–Nepal Inter-Governmental Sub-Committee (IGSC) on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to Control Unauthorised Trade was held at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, on 16–17 September 2026.
The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India, Shri Ujjwal Kumar Ghosh, while the Nepali delegation was led by Joint Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Government of Nepal, Shri Buddha Bahadur Gurung. Senior officials from the concerned Ministries and Departments of both countries participated in the meeting.
The IGSC is an important bilateral institutional mechanism for detailed examination of trade and trade-related issues and for facilitating bilateral trade and transit.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed 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, rail and road connectivity and other trade-related matters.
Both sides discussed measures to facilitate greater market access for products of India and Nepal. Issues relating to agricultural products, dairy, food products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and AYUSH products, along with standards and phytosanitary requirements, were considered.
The two sides also discussed strengthening Customs cooperation and trade facilitation, including pre-arrival exchange of information, electronic verification of Certificates of Origin, Customs automation and digitalisation. The discussions focused on facilitating legitimate trade while strengthening mechanisms to ensure compliance with applicable rules and prevent misuse of preferential trade arrangements.
Transit and connectivity constituted an important part of the discussions. Both sides reviewed rail and road connectivity, movement of freight, Integrated Check Posts and land-port infrastructure. The discussions also focused on improving the utilisation of existing infrastructure and addressing operational bottlenecks affecting bilateral and transit trade.
The two sides welcomed continued cooperation in standards, food safety, plant quarantine and conformity assessment, including institutional cooperation and capacity-building initiatives.
Both sides emphasised the importance of continued cooperation between the relevant agencies to facilitate legitimate cross-border trade and address issues relating to unauthorised trade and commercial fraud.
The meeting was held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere. Both sides agreed to maintain close engagement through established institutional mechanisms and pursue time-bound follow-up on issues requiring further technical examination.
India and Nepal share close historical, cultural and economic ties. India remains Nepal’s largest trading partner and an important source of investment. The discussions at the IGSC are expected to further strengthen bilateral trade, transit connectivity and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Source: PIB
