Question : ASSISTANCE TO NEPAL

(a) whether Nepal has requested India to help and guide it to increase its foreign trade;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether access to seaport through Haldia and rail transit to Chittagong port in Bangladesh has been requested;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether any special group task force has been constituted to pay greater attention for the development of better relations with Nepal including in the sector of foreign trade and technology; and

(f) if so, the details in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE)

(a) No.

(b) Does not arise.

(c)-(d) Nepal already enjoys the facility of the use of the Haldia port for movement of third country goods in transit to and from Nepal under the India-Nepal Treaty of Transit. No request has been received from Government of Nepal regarding rail transit to Chittagong port in Bangladesh.

(e)-(f) The two Governments have established an Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) on trade and transit issues at the level of the Commerce Secretaries. The last meeting of the Committee was held on 24-25 August, 2006 in New Delhi.