Purnea (BIHAR): A summit on India-Nepal relations held in Bihar has laid fresh emphasis on cross-border cooperation, with a focus on trade, culture and environmental management.
Organised by the India-Nepal Centre of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the Sub Himalayan Research Institute, the “India-Nepal Partnership Summit 2025” took place on 22 April at the Vidya Vihar Institute of Technology in Purnea.
Supported by Varun Beverages Ltd, the event attracted scholars, business leaders and policymakers from both countries. Discussions centred on ways to strengthen ties in the Sub-Himalayan region, particularly across Seemanchal, Kosi and Mithilanchal in India and neighbouring provinces in Nepal.
Speakers included Ratneshwar Mishra and Manindra Nath Thakur from the Sub Himalayan Research Institute; Atul K Thakur of PHDCCI; Bhaskar Koirala of the Nepal Institute of International and Strategic Studies; and senior representatives from Nepal’s trade and tourism bodies.
The summit highlighted the shared cultural heritage of the region—where languages, religious customs and social practices transcend the international boundary—and how this could be harnessed for deeper diplomatic and economic cooperation. Calls were made for joint cultural festivals and student exchange programmes.
Cross-border trade also featured prominently. With the North Bihar–Nepal corridor acting as a vital commercial link, panellists urged the removal of infrastructure bottlenecks and the creation of a roadmap for accelerated economic integration.
Environmental cooperation, particularly concerning flood-prone rivers originating in Nepal and flowing into India, emerged as a pressing concern. Participants discussed joint flood control strategies and sustainable water management initiatives.
The summit concluded with a consensus that India and Nepal must institutionalise cross-border dialogues to turn their historical and geographical proximity into enduring, mutually beneficial partnerships.
