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The two-day 8th Bangladesh-Nepal commerce secretary level meeting (CSLM) concluded on Wednesday, focusing on deepening trade, transit and connectivity cooperation between the two neighbouring countries amid evolving regional and global trade dynamics.
The meeting reviewed progress since the 7th CSLM held in Kathmandu in April 2024 and outlined a forward-looking roadmap to expand bilateral trade, investment and logistics cooperation.
Senior officials from both countries attended the meeting.
Key agendas included discussions on a preferential trade agreement (PTA) aimed at reducing tariffs, para-tariffs and non-tariff barriers, alongside efforts to expand market access and simplify cross-border payment systems.
Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and technical barriers to trade (TBT) were also tabled.
Participants reviewed the implementation of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and Nepal's Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, as well as the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology, to ease technical barriers and facilitate smoother border clearance.
Trade facilitation and connectivity featured prominently in the discussions, with proposals covering integrated check posts (ICPs), inland container depots (ICDs), testing laboratories at Banglabandha, improved railway connectivity, harmonised customs procedures, insurance and road standards, and a proposed Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA).
The meeting also discussed transit routes through Bangladesh, the use of inland waterways, and potential tripartite cooperation with India.
Both Bangladesh and Nepal are set to graduate from least developed country (LDC) status in 2026.
According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and Nepal Department of Customs (updated January 2026), bilateral trade currently stands at around $45-$55 million.
The meeting aimed to set concrete timelines to translate policy discussions into actionable outcomes, further strengthening Bangladesh-Nepal economic ties.
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