Lok Sabha Question No. 4772 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-29
Subject: Trade with South Asian Countries
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Anumula Revanth Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4772 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 th  MARCH,2023

## TRADE WITH SOUTH ASIAN COUNTRIES

## 4772.   SHRI ANUMULA REVANTH REDDY:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मं त्री ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that South Asia is the World's lowest intra-regional trade region around the world;
- (b) if  so,  whether  the  Indian  Government  is  taking  any  steps  to  increase  the  economic engagement with South Asian countries;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is considering the decrease of the Non-Tariff barriers to speed up the trade relations with neighbouring countries;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (f) the  details  of  India's  trade  relations  with  South  Asian  countries  since  2019,  year  and country-wise?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jherh vuqfiz;k iVsy½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

## (a): This data is not available with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

(b) & (c): Government of India continues to engage proactively with South Asian countries to promote  greater  intra-regional  trade  and  strengthen  economic  relations.  Issues  impacting  trade raised  by  these  countries  are  taken  up  for  an  early  resolution  through  established  bilateral  and multilateral interactions at Ministerial and Official levels. Improvements in trade infrastructure in the form of establishment and upgradation of Land Custom Stations, Integrated Check Posts, Trade Facilitation  Centres  and  Border  Haats  etc.  are  carried  out  in  coordination  with  the  concerned neighboring countries. Assistance is provided under Market Access Initiative (MAI) Scheme to Indian exporters, Export Promotion Councils, Apex Trade Bodies etc. for participation in events in these  countries.  Additionally,  measures  have  been  taken  such  as  promotion  of  trade  in  INR

denomination, granting of credit lines and project loans, resolving buyer seller disputes etc. to boost economic engagements with these countries.

- (d) & (e): A number of issues related to NTBs are resolved through bilateral and multilateral meetings under the institutional mechanism with neighbouring countries. It includes cooperation in customs, facilitation of trade through railways, land and sea ports, harmonization of standards, etc.
- (f): Bilateral Trade data of India with South Asian countries is given in the table below:

(Figures in US$ million)

|   S.No. | Countries   |   2019-20 |   2020-21 |   2021-22 |
|---------|-------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|       1 | Nepal       |   7871.95 |   7511.62 |  11016.8  |
|       2 | Bhutan      |   1144.33 |   1134.02 |   1430.84 |
|       3 | Bangladesh  |   9465.49 |  10783.2  |  18134.3  |
|       4 | Sri Lanka   |   4704.61 |   4141.17 |   6812.16 |
|       5 | Pakistan    |    830.58 |    329.26 |    516.36 |
|       6 | Maldives    |    232.57 |    220.36 |    739.33 |
|       7 | Afghanistan |   1527.42 |   1335.27 |   1065.4  |

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