Combating Trade Deficit: Government Rolls Out Action Plan for Commerce Policy 2081 with 162 Key Initiatives

To counter the country's growing trade deficit, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies has officially launched the "Action Plan for the Implementation of the Commerce Policy, 2081." Approved on June 18 (Ashar 4) through a ministerial decision, this blueprint aims to fundamentally restructure Nepal's trade ecosystem by executing over 162 targeted activities across federal, provincial, and local government tiers. The strategy prioritizes boosting high-yield, high-comparative-advantage goods identified under the "Nepal Trade Integration Strategy, 2080." To resolve persistent non-tariff barriers in international markets, the government will channel investments into upgrading high-tech quality testing laboratories, cold storage units, and advanced warehouses at major border customs points, strengthening the certification capabilities of the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control alongside the Bureau of Standards and Metrology.