India, Nepal ink pact to step up trade ties

India and Nepal have amended the Treaty of Transit between the two countries to facilitate the movement of rail-based freight between Jogbani in India and Biratnagar in Nepal, including bulk cargo. 

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Nepal’s Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Anil Kumar Sinha met in New Delhi on Thursday (November 13, 2025) to exchange the letters amending the protocol to the Treaty of Transit between India and Nepal. 

“This signing will facilitate the movement of rail-based freight between Jogbani (India) and Biratnagar (Nepal) including bulk cargo under an expanded definition,” the government said in a release. 

“This liberalisation extends to key transit corridors — Kolkata-Jogbani, Kolkata-Nautanwa (Sunauli), and Visakhapatnam-Nautanwa (Sunauli), thereby strengthening multimodal trade connectivity between the two countries and Nepal’s trade with third countries,” the release added.

The two Ministers also welcomed the ongoing bilateral initiatives to enhance cross-border connectivity and trade. 

“India remains Nepal’s largest trade and investment partner, accounting for a significant share of its external trade,” the release said. “These new measures are expected to further consolidate economic and commercial linkages between the two countries and beyond.”