India-Nepal Inter-Governmental Sub-Committee Meeting on Trade and Transit
The India-Nepal Inter-Governmental Sub-Committee (IGSC) on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to Control Unauthorised Trade held its meeting at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi on September 16-17, 2026. The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary of the Department of Commerce, Government of India, Shri Ujjwal Kumar Ghosh, while the Nepali delegation was led by Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Government of Nepal, Shri Buddha Bahadur Gurung. Senior officials from concerned Ministries and Departments of both countries participated in this bilateral institutional mechanism designed for detailed examination of trade and trade-related issues.
During the meeting, both sides conducted a comprehensive review of multiple trade-related areas including market access, Customs procedures, trade facilitation, standards compliance, food safety protocols, phytosanitary measures, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and AYUSH products. The discussions also covered border infrastructure development, rail and road connectivity, and other trade-related matters affecting bilateral economic relations.
Specific discussions focused on facilitating greater market access for agricultural products, dairy items, food products, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and AYUSH products from both countries, while addressing standards and phytosanitary requirements. The parties emphasized strengthening Customs cooperation through pre-arrival exchange of information, electronic verification of Certificates of Origin, and automation and digitalization of Customs processes to facilitate legitimate trade while preventing misuse of preferential trade arrangements.
Transit and connectivity formed a significant part of the agenda, with both sides reviewing rail and road connectivity, freight movement mechanisms, Integrated Check Posts, and land-port infrastructure. The discussions aimed at improving utilization of existing infrastructure and addressing operational bottlenecks affecting bilateral and transit trade between the two nations.
The meeting concluded with both sides welcoming continued cooperation in standards, food safety, plant quarantine, and conformity assessment, including institutional cooperation and capacity-building initiatives. They emphasized the importance of ongoing collaboration between relevant agencies to facilitate legitimate cross-border trade while addressing issues relating to unauthorized trade and commercial fraud. The discussions were held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, with both parties agreeing to maintain close engagement through established institutional mechanisms and pursue time-bound follow-up on issues requiring further technical examination.