Siliguri hosts talks between India, Bangladesh and Nepal

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, Siliguri,10 Nov 2014: Diplomats from India, Nepal and Bhutan on Monday conducted a crucial meeting with regional heads and security officers at a Mallaguri hotel in Siliguri with a view to improve trade, transit, border infrastructure and connectivity between the three neighbouring countries.

A team would be set up to function as a catalyst in promoting trade and transit, it was learnt from sources. The meeting continued till late in the evening.

India’s High Commissioner Pankaj Saran, Nepalese ambassador Hari Kumar Shrestha, Bhutanese ambassador Pema Choden and Union ministry of external affairs joint secretary Bijay Gopal were among those present at the meeting.

Jalpaiguri divisional commissioner Barun Roy, the district magistrates of Darjeeling, Alipurduar, Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri and Siliguri police commissioner Jag Mohan also attended the meeting.

A team will be set up for touring the land customs outposts of Burimari-Changrabandha (Bangladesh-India), Phuentsholing-Jaigaon (Bhutan-India), Kakarbhitta-Panitanki (Nepal-India) and Phulbari-Banglabandha (India-Bangladesh) to highlight the importance

of sub-regional cooperation in crucial areas such as trade, transit, border infrastructure and connectivity.

The team will also visit several border areas of India with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal and some other land customs and immigration outposts. The team members will hold interactions with the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Phuentsholing, the Mechi Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Kakarbhitta, the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of North Bengal in Siliguri and the Panchagarh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Panchgarh Exporters-Importers Association in Bangladesh.