Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman leaves for Nepal today to attend the 8th meeting of the Bangladesh Nepal Joint Economic Commission beginning there tomorrow (Tuesday), reports UNB.

The Minister Is leading a three member delegation to the three-day JEC meet, being held after one year.

The delegation Include ERD (Economic Relations Division) Secretary Enam Ahmed Chowdhury and Commerce Ministry Joint Secretary Kazi Goiam Rahman. Bangladesh Amba ssador to Kathmandu Syed Mohammad Hossain will also join It at the talks.

Bilateral economic issues particularly In the field of trade, industry. Joint venture, transit traffic, agriculture, fisheries and telecommunication, will come up for discussions.

Besides, the Commission will discuss ways of expanding cultural, educational and technical cooperation between the two SAARC countries.

Finance Ministers of both the countries are the co-chairmen of the Bangla-Nepal JEC, set up on January 14 In 1978 for promote economic ties between the two countries.

Trade balance between the two South Asian neighbours has largely been in favour of Dhaka.

In 1989-90 fiscal. Bangladesh export to Nepal stood at Tk 37 crore while its import from the Himalayan Kingdom amounted to only Tk 8.22 crore.

Dhaka usually exports urea, tea. Jute manufactures. PVC pipe and vegetable while Its imports Include fruit and vegetable.