Biratnagar industrialists urge government to enhance trade diplomacy efforts

Industrialists and businesspersons in Biratnagar have urged the government to strengthen trade diplomacy, emphasizing that the country’s economic future should not be limited to labor migration alone.

During a program on Tuesday, the Morang Trade Association welcomed National Independent Party Treasurer Lima Adhikari and other Morang MPs, highlighting the need to advance trade, investment, and export promotion alongside labor agreements.

Association President Anupam Rathi expressed that trade agreements have become essential for transforming Nepal’s current economic structure. He noted that while labor migration has been prioritized for a long time, it is now time to expand economic diplomatic relations to directly connect with international markets.

Rathi also pointed out the challenges posed by the unregulated expansion of settlements in the Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor, suggesting the development of a separate industrial area to organize the corridor.

Similarly, former association president and central member of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Navin Rijal, recommended reviewing import policies in the upcoming budget to reduce customs duties on more than 15 items.

Rijal also highlighted the potential to attract tourists from India and China through religious tourism, emphasizing the need to focus on the development and infrastructure of religious tourist sites in Koshi Province.