On November 13, 2023, in New Delhi, India and Nepal signed a Letter of Exchange (LoE) to amend the Protocol to the Treaty of Transit, aimed at expanding India-Nepal transit routes and boosting rail trade connectivity. The bilateral meeting was attended by Shri Piyush Goyal, Commerce and Industry Minister of India, and Mr. Anil Kumar Sinha, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Government of Nepal. The LoE will facilitate rail-based freight movement, including bulk cargo, between Jogbani (India) and Biratnagar (Nepal) under an expanded definition. It extends key transit corridors, including Kolkata-Jogbani, Kolkata-Nautanwa (Sunauli), and Visakhapatnam-Nautanwa (Sunauli). The LoE enables direct rail connectivity along the Jogbani-Biratnagar rail link, facilitating transport from the ports of Kolkata and Visakhapatnam to the Nepal Customs Yard cargo station in Morang District, near Biratnagar in Nepal, inaugurated on June 1, 2023. The meeting also welcomed ongoing bilateral initiatives to enhance cross-border connectivity and trade facilitation, including the development of Integrated Check Posts and other infrastructure. India is Nepal's largest trade and investment partner. (Release ID: 2189629) Visitor Counter : 949. The information was released by Nihi Sharma.
Key Entities Referenced
Treaty of Transit between India and Nepal: A bilateral treaty between India and Nepal, the protocol of which was amended by the Letter of Exchange (LoE).
Letter of Exchange (LoE): A bilateral agreement between India and Nepal amending the Protocol to the Treaty of Transit, expanding rail-based freight movement.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry: The Indian Ministry overseeing the trade agreement.
India: One of the countries involved in the agreement.
Nepal: One of the countries involved in the agreement.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
India, Nepal Ink Deal to Boost Rail Trade
Connectivity
Letter of Exchange (LoE) Signed to Expand India–Nepal
Transit Routes
Posted On: 13 NOV 2025 3:30PM by PIB Delhi
A bilateral meeting between Shri Piyush Goyal, Commerce and Industry Minister of India and Mr.
Anil Kumar Sinha, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Government of Nepal was held
today in New Delhi.
Both countries interchanged Letter of Exchange (LoE) amending the Protocol to the Treaty of Transit
between India and Nepal, took place. This signing will facilitate the movement of rail-based freight
between Jogbani (India) and Biratnagar (Nepal) including bulk cargo under an expanded definition.
This liberalization extends to key transit corridors- Kolkata-Jogbani, Kolkata–Nautanwa (Sunauli),
and Visakhapatnam–Nautanwa (Sunauli), thereby strengthening multimodal trade connectivity
between the two countries and Nepal’s trade with third countries.
The aforementioned Letter of Exchange (LoE) enables direct rail connectivity along the Jogbani–
Biratnagar rail link for both containerized and bulk cargo, facilitating transport from the ports of
Kolkata and Visakhapatnam to the Nepal Customs Yard cargo station located in Morang District, near
Biratnagar in Nepal. This rail link, constructed with grant assistance from the Government of India,
was jointly inaugurated by the Prime Ministers of India and Nepal on 1 June 2023.
The meeting also welcomed ongoing bilateral initiatives to enhance cross-border connectivity and
trade facilitation, including the development of Integrated Check Posts and other infrastructure. India
remains Nepal’s largest trade and investment partner, accounting for a significant share of its external
trade. These new measures are expected to further consolidate economic and commercial linkages
between the two countries and beyond.
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Nihi Sharma
(Release ID: 2189629) Visitor Counter : 949
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