The Governments of India and Nepal have signed a memorandum of understanding to exchange pre-arrival information on exported goods, aimed at facilitating trade and strengthening customs control between the two countries. The agreement was signed in New Delhi, India, on 21 January by Mr. Vivek Chaturvedi, Chairperson of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs of the Government of India, and Mr. Shyam Prasad Bhandari, Director General of the Department of Customs of the Government of Nepal. The MoU was jointly prepared by India's Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and Nepal's Department of Customs. It institutionalizes the advance sharing of export-related data between their customs administrations to support risk management, reduce clearance time, and ensure secure cross-border trade.

Under the agreement, both countries will exchange data electronically within legal limits and use the information strictly for risk analysis to enhance customs control and trade facilitation. The arrangement will initially be applied on a pilot basis to mutually agreed categories of goods before extending to all goods. Both officials emphasized their commitment to prompt implementation, with Mr. Bhandari noting the MoU would enable more effective monitoring of high-risk consignments while facilitating faster clearance for compliant traders. The agreement includes provisions for designated contact officers, dispute resolution through diplomatic channels, and potential amendments by mutual consent.

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Nepal, India sign MoU to exchange export information