India, Nepal and Bangladesh Finalized MoU to Implement BBIN MVA

Current Context: India, Nepal, and Bangladesh have finalized to commence the MoU to implement Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA).

• The BBIN MVA will help to enhance regional trade and connectivity.
• The BBIN connectivity project was conceived after the SAARC failed to agree on a regional motor vehicles agreement during the summit held in 2014 in Nepal, because of opposition from Pakistan.
• The commencement of MoU to be signed by India, Bangladesh, and Nepal to implement the BBIN MVA was finalized at the meeting held in New Delhi recently. Bhutan was an observer for the meeting.
• India was represented by Smita Pant, joint secretary in External Affairs Ministry.
• The technical and knowledge support for the meeting was received by Asian Development Bank.
• The dignitaries discussed passengers and cargo protocols that are required to operate BBIN MVA to regulate passenger, personal, and cargo vehicular traffic among the participated nations.