Press Release
oi-Oneindia Staff
With a resolve to support the forward looking bilateral economic partnership agenda, in association with the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), Bara Parsa Udyog Sangh (BPUS), Makwanpur Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI) and Confederation of Bagmati Province Industries (CBPI), PHDCCI India-Nepal Centre organised “India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Forums” on 15-16 April 2026 at Nepal’s industrial hubs Birgunj and Hetauda.
India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Forums, held 15-16 April 2026 in Birgunj and Hetauda by PHDCCI India-Nepal Centre and Nepalese industry bodies, focused on enhancing bilateral trade, Ease of Doing Business, and investments across sectors like energy, IT, and agriculture.
The forums provided uniquely important platforms to discuss the various matters concerning India-Nepal economic and trade cooperation with unwavering focus on Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), compliance, process-driven, technology-enabled and hassle-free transit at border points. India being Nepal’s largest trading partner, among others, the forums offered the dialogues and linkages among the Nepalese businesses for exploring investments and joint ventures with the Indian entities in the key focus sectors: Tourism & Hospitality, Agriculture & Food Processing, Ayurveda & Organic Foods, Hydro & Renewable Energy, Infrastructure, IT & New Technology (AI/Data Centers etc), Rare Minerals
Speaking in the forums, the “Chief Guest & Keynote Speaker” Devi Sahai Meena, Consul General of India, Birgunj, Nepal presented a brief overview on India-Nepal Economic & Commercial Relations and emphasized that the open borders and connectivity projects have been major facilitators of India-Nepal trade. He said, “Recent developments such as improvements in border infrastructure, enhanced connectivities including digital connectivity, operationalisation of Motihari-Amlekhganj Petroleum pipeline which is being further extended to Chitwan, enabling digital (Indian RuPay) payments, progress in bilateral power sector cooperation are expected to further boost bilateral trade between the two friendly nations.”
He underlined that India-Nepal cooperation and knowledge exchange can play a vital role. Both sides can learn from each other’s experiences and leverage each other’s strengths, he added, “By working together, India and Nepal can create a vibrant ecosystem that can foster startups, promote innovation, boost tourism, and create employment by establishing agriculture and agriculture-related industries. Cooperation in Ayurveda and AYUSH medicine can also be explored as this also holds good opportunities with people from around the globe having interest in this system of medicine and well-being.”
The forums were moderated by Atul K Thakur, Senior Secretary, India-Nepal Centre, PHDCCI and addressed by the industry leaders including: Ghanshyam Ojha, Director General, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI); Pramod Kumar Sah, President (Madhesh Province), Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI); Hari Prasad Gautam, President, Birgunj Chamber of Commerce & Industries (BiCCI); Suman Shrestha, Immediate Past President, Chamber of Commerce & Industry-Chitwan (CCIC); Ashok Temani, Immediate Past President (Madhesh Province), FNCCI; Chiranjivi Subedi, President, Chamber of Commerce & Industry-Chitwan (CCIC); Mohan Sharma, President, Jeetpur Simra City Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Anil Kumar Agrawal, Immediate Past President, Birgunj Chamber of Commerce & Industries (BiCCI); Bishwash Pratap Shah, President, NYEF (FNCCI) – Birgunj Chapter; Niraj Agrawal, Vice President, NICCI Birgunj Chapter and Joint Treasurer, BiCCI; Pramod Singh Ranabhat, President, Makwanpur Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI); Trilochan Kandel, President, Confederation of Bagmati Province Industries (CBPI); Chandan Singh, First Vice President, NYEF Birgunj Chapter
The deliberations’ of the forums shall help opening new avenues of business engagements in the key sectors of economy besides giving a much needed boost to the trade near crucially important India-Nepal borders including Birgunj-Raxaul and at Hetauda industry cluster.
