March 23: Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava has said that India will take initiatives to remove the anti-dumping duty imposed by India on the import of readymade jute from Nepal. After businessmen informed the stakeholders about the problems during a program organized by the Morang Merchants Association, Srivastava said that he would take initiatives to remove the anti-dumping duty in order to facilitate the trade of jute. India has been imposing the anti-dumping duty of up to 4 percent on Nepalese jute imports.

Srivastava also said that the amount of food grains required for Nepal will be easily made available despite the export ban. He said that the Government of India will provide the necessary food if there is a demand with real data.

He said that the Government of India has adopted a policy of taking its neighbors along in development. He also added that the railway service from Bathnaha to Biratnagar ICP will be operational within a short time. He informed that the railway which has been completed up to ICP will be handed over to the Government of Nepal within a few days.

Srivastava said that the essence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Neighbors First' policy is to move forward for development, and mentioned that both India and Nepal are brothers. He said, “Both countries are equal. None of them is big or small. We should help each other in development.”

After industrialists and businessmen demanded the opening of the closed Indian Embassy office in Biratnagar, Srivastava clarified that the office will be opened if the Nepalese government and the people of Biratnagar want it. He said, “Nepal government should give permission on this matter, if the government allows, the embassy office will be opened here as well.”