Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal has said that economic partnership is the key area where Nepal and Bangladesh can work together to further expand and diversify the relationship.

Speaking at a program organized by the Institute of Foreign Affairs, a government think-tank, Paudyal identified trade, energy, tourism and travel, and connectivity as key areas where two countries can work together. 

“First and foremost is in the areas of trade. Even if we trade under the existing regional framework of SAFTA, the two countries do hold the potential to increase the current amount of trade many fold provided we rationalize our tariffs and limit the non-tariff barriers to a minimum," said the senior diplomat. 

Highlighting the need for cooperation in the energy sector, the foreign secretary said Nepal’s rivers have enormous potential to contribute to the clean and green energy security in our region.

This sector offers a new vista of sustainable and long-term beneficial collaboration between Nepal and Bangladesh, he said.

The Foreign Secretary further added that there also exists a promising potential in trilateral cooperation for cross-border energy trade between Nepal, Bangladesh, and India as we grow and prosper together. 

We are grateful to Bangladesh for providing an additional transit route via Rohanpur-Singabad railway transit that would facilitate Nepal’s access to Chittagong and Mongla Ports and help boost regional and sub-regional trade, he added.