SOLAR ENERGY
The India-Nepal Trade
Treaty was renewed on March 2, 2002 after incorporating suitable
modifications to the Protocol to the Treaty without changing the
basic spirit and framework of the Treaty. Nepal continues to enjoy
non-reciprocal duty free access for its manufactures in the Indian
market. A reasonable value addition norm of 25% in the first year
and 30% in the subsequent years for zero duty access and quantitative
restrictions (for zero duty access only) on some sensitive commodities
has been built into the Protocol with a view to ensuring that
provisions of the Treaty facilitate the accrual of the benefits
of the treaty to genuine industries of Nepal and are not abused
by unscrupulous economic operatives to the detriment of the Indian
industry. The India-Nepal Trade Treaty remains one of the most
liberal Treaties found any where in the world.
The existing
Treaty of Extradition between India and Nepal was signed on October
2, 1953, and needs to be updated in the light of current international
practices and the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of
Terrorism, to which both India and Nepal are signatories. With
this objective, Government of India and His Majesty's Government
of Nepal commenced discussions in Kathmandu on February 16-19,
2003. The two sides have decided to continue their discussions
in New Delhi at an early date with a view to finalizing the Treaty
expeditiously.
This information
was given by the Minister of State for External affairs Shri Vinod
Khanna in Rajya Sabha today.
