Governance

India and Nepal hold 21st DG level talks on Customs cooperation

By IndianMandarins- 20 hours ago

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Kathmandu (15.04.2025): The 21st Director-General Level Talks on Customs Cooperation was held between India and Nepal in Kathmandu, Nepal on April 10-11, 2025. A host of bilateral issues for enhancing Customs Cooperation were discussed between the two countries.

The Indian delegation was led by Abhai Kumar Srivastav (IRS C&IT: 1992), Director-General, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Ministry of Finance and Nepalese delegation was led by Mahesh Bhattarai, DG, Department of Customs, Government of Nepal. Nepal is a priority partner of India under its ‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy. The issues discussed included:

The agenda items of the meeting covered measures to check smuggling
Review progress on MoU on Pre-arrival Exchange of Customs Data and Electronic Origin Data Exchange System (EODES);
Finalization of Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA);
Facilitation of movement of transit cargo under Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS);
Automation and digitisation of transit processes;
Upgradation of border infrastructure;
Knowledge sharing program and support for capacity development, among others.
Issues related to trans-border criminal activities and smuggling of gold and narcotics;
Fake Currency Notes (FCN), prohibited/restricted category of goods, such as e-Cigarettes, e-lighters, certain varieties of garlic and other cases of commercial frauds, including sensitive goods were also deliberated.
Both sides looked forward towards cooperation in preventing smuggling across the borders with active engagement and exchange of intelligence.
Both the nations agreed to take necessary measures to control the unauthorised trade and work in tandem.
India accounts for two-thirds of Nepal’s exports and is the largest trade partner of Nepal.
It was mutually agreed to consider new technologies for facilitating trade and preventing smuggling of goods.