PRI and IFA Sign MoU to Conduct Research on Modernization of Trade Facilitation
On 2 March 2021, Policy Research Institute and the Institute of Foreign Affairs entered into an agreement to jointly implement a research project on ‘Modernization of Trade Facilitation.” The objectives of the research are:
to analyze Nepal’s trade situation and find out how the ever increasing trade deficit can be controlled through export promotion
to identify the role of diplomatic mission in trade facilitation and export promotion of Nepali products in international market
to identify strategies to penetrate potential major foreign markets for Nepali products
to identify potential markets that Nepal can export to by carefully studying bilateral, multilateral and regional agreements
to identify gaps in diplomatic missions in trade facilitation and recommend strategies to close those gaps
The research would build on the review of international trade scenarios and policies; Nepal’s trade strategies; bilateral trade and transit agreements with neighbouring countries; multilateral trade agreements; and, the review of the role of different agencies in cross border trade and coordination.
Among others, the eighth-month project is expected to identify major hurdles and factors hindering Nepal’s international trade expansion and export despite Nepal’s comparative advantages, and suggest trade enhancement strategies for diplomatic missions. To oversee the timely completion of the project and ensure quality outcome of it, a research team and advisory committee have been constituted with representatives from both participating institutes.
The MoU was signed at the PRI Office in Sano Gaucharan by Dr Bishnu Raj Upreti, Executive Chairperson of PRI and Mr. Rajesh Shrestha, Executive Director of IFA. Present on the occasion were Dr. Deepak Kumar Khadka, Head of Research Department and Dr Mukti Ram Rijal, Senior Research Fellow and Coordinator of Governance and Public Service Delivery, from PRI, and Dr. Rupak Sapkota, Deputy Executive Director, and Mr. Madhavji Shreshtha, Senior Resource Person from IFA.