Kathmandu, Feb 6: High-ranking government officials from Nepal and India are meeting in Pokhara, the capital of Gandaki province on coming February 8 and 9 to discuss about various aspects relating to the Nepal-India Trade Treaty.

The meeting is expected to be highly relevant and productive as well in the context when Nepal is experiencing a ballooning trade deficit with its southern neighbor.

As stated by joint secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Rabi Shanker Sainju, the meeting would explore the ways to reduce the huge trade deficit between the two countries, discussing whether to amend the bilateral treaties as per the need of time or deal the issues through a new way.

The second meeting being attended by technical human resources concerned with the commerce treaty would make efforts to make provisions in the treaty compatible with time. The meeting is expected to recommend for amendment to the Nepal-India Trade Treaty-1990. Joint Secretary Sainju is leading a nine-member delegation to the meeting and his Indian counterpart Bhupinder Bhalla is heading the seven-member Indian team.

Officials from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies; Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Departments of Customs and Commerce are taking part in the meeting.