Dhaka, Jan. 9: Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Banstola arrived here this morning for a four -day official visit at the invitation of Minister of External Affairs of Bangladesh Abdus Samad Azad.

Minister Banstola was received at the Zia International Airport by Minister Azad.

Present at the airport to welcome Minister Banstola were Royal Nepalese Ambassador to Bangladesh Madhuraman Acharya and high ranking foreign ministry officials of Bangladesh.

Minister Bastola, is going to take up matters relating to expansion of bilateral trade and the transit facility.

With the opening up of Phulbari-Banglabandha transit route in 1997, bilateral trade between Nepal and Bangladesh is going up notably year after year.

Last year, Nepalese products worth Rs. 720 million were exported to Bangladesh while the import from Bangladesh totalled Rs. 560 million.

According to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, last year, Nepal witnessed surplus of about Rs. 140 million exceeding the surplus made in 1998/99.

Volume of trade between Nepal and Bangladesh fluctuates every year, ministry’s neighbouring country division officer Naresh Pokharel says.

According to him, Nepal saw a trade deficit of Rs. 710 million in 1993/94.

At present, lentils and rice are the major exportable items of Nepal. Besides, tomatoes, onion, garlic, orange, apple, wheat flour and handicrafts are the other items which are being exported to Bangladesh.

Nepal imports fish, medicines, fertiliser, plastic goods, newsprint, jute items, textiles and electronic goods from Bangladesh.

Fertilisers and jute goods from Bangladesh have occupied a major chunk of Nepalese market.

Bilateral trade between the two countries can flourish if custom duty on forest-based products and agriculture are reduced, experts say.