KATHMANDU, Jan. 14: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Joint Economic Council called upon the governments of Nepal and India to conclude the pending railway agreement so that the Inland Clearance Depot (ICD) at Birgunj can be brought into operation as early as possible.

The two leading business organisations which met in New Delhi recently decided to form two separate joint task forces on Railway Agreement and Quarantine, said an FNCCI press statement today following an accord reached between them.

They also decided to recommend that Bureau of Indian Standards (BSI) and Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM) to start certification for facilitating the export of manufactured items from Nepal.

They have agreed to organise promotional programmes, including investment promotion seminars on investment and hydropower in major cities of India, Nepal-India summit, joint activities on corporate governance, study on Nepal, India and China tripartite collaboration in promoting trade and investment and to organise joint trade fairs.

A high-level CII delegation is expected to visit Nepal during the next meeting of the JEC scheduled to take place in Nepal after three months.