Nepali Embassy, PHDCCI India–Nepal centre host economic cooperation meet in Bhopal
KATHMANDU: PHDCCI India–Nepal Centre, in association with the Embassy of Nepal in India, organised ‘India–Nepal Economic Cooperation Meet 2025’ in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, on Saturday. The conference was attended by senior Nepali diplomats, government officials and industry leaders.
Narendra Shivaji Patel, Minister of Public Health and Medical Education, Government of Madhya Pradesh, said the meet was “historically important” for enhancing bilateral economic cooperation and strengthening the base of Nepali businesses in India, with a focus on Madhya Pradesh and Central India. He added that it would improve the ease of doing business between the two countries and further develop their unique cultural ties.
Atul K Thakur, Secretary of the India–Nepal Centre at PHDCCI, highlighted progress in connectivity, including roads, bridges, cross-border railways, integrated check posts and petroleum pipelines. He cited recent initiatives such as the integrated check posts at Nepalgunj, Bhairahawa and Dodhara–Chandani; the inauguration of a freight train service; advances on the Kurtha–Bijalpura and Raxaul–Kathmandu railway lines; the Motihari–Amelekhgunj pipeline Phase II; and new petroleum pipelines between Siliguri–Jhapa and Amelekhgunj–Chitwan. In the power sector, he noted the finalisation of bilateral and trilateral power-trade agreements and contracts for new hydropower projects, including the 480 MW Phukot Karnali and the 669 MW Lower Arun. He also pointed to Nepal’s acceptance of UPI payments via FonePay QR since March 2024 and closer collaboration between the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Nepal Clearing House (NCHL) on cross-border digital transactions.
According to Secretary Thakur, Indian firms account for 35% of Nepal’s total FDI stock, worth nearly $777 million. Nepal is now India’s 17th largest export destination, up from 28th in 2014, with bilateral trade totalling $7.87 billion in the Indian financial year 2023–24. Exports from India to Nepal stood at $7.041 billion, while Nepali exports to India reached $829.71 million. India received 67.9% of Nepal’s total exports between mid-August 2023 and mid-July 2024, with other major markets including the USA, Germany, Turkey, France, the UK, Australia, Italy, Japan and Canada. Nepal’s principal exports are edible oil, coffee, tea and jute; its main imports from India are petroleum products, iron and steel, cereals, vehicles and machinery parts. About 150 Indian ventures operate in Nepal across manufacturing, services, the power sector and tourism.
In a joint presentation, Ambika Joshi, Minister Counsellor, and Rabindra Jung Thapa, Economic Counsellor, Embassy of Nepal in India, called on businesses in Madhya Pradesh and other Indian states to explore investment and trade opportunities in Nepal. They cited the Janaki Temple at Janakpur—built by the former queen of Tikamgarh—as a symbol of shared heritage.
The meet concluded with detailed discussions on promoting sustainable industrial development, revisiting bilateral trade policies, expanding regional cooperation and improving border-area infrastructure for road, rail and air connectivity.
