Commerce dept to go on the Internet

KATHMANDU, JUL 30 - The Department of Commerce and Supply Management (DoCSM) has planned to adopt the paperless system for the issuance of new licences.

The move is aimed at effective recording and monitoring of business entities and entertaining complaints from consumers.

After the system comes into effect, applicants can submit documents required for opening new firms online. Besides, existing firms can also see their details online.

The department has started data entry, and has so far completed entering details of 150,000 business entities in the new system.

DOCSM Director General Shambhu Koirala said they plan to implement the system by the end of this fiscal year. He said the system will also be implemented at DOCSM subordinate offices outside the valley.

The department has five offices outside the valley, including in Morang, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi. In the remaining 67 districts, the department carries out its functions through the offices of the Cottage Department. For market monitoring it coordinates with District Administration Offices in these districts.

Koirala said the paperless system would also be implemented in Cottage Department offices.

As of now, the department has registered 250,000 firms, of them 150,000 firms are from outside the valley. Business entities, including import-export businesses, with more than Rs300,000 capital are needed to take licence from the department.

Koirala said the new system would allow authorities to assess the status of the firms. “It will help us track the firms that do not fulfil legal requirements, besides finding out details of closed firms,” he said.

The DoCSM has also planned to set up a separate information desk.

The mechanism will make the people aware about the status of the business entities along with entertaining complaints against those involved in malpractices. “This could make the market monitoring more effective,” Koirala said.

The department has allocated Rs3.3 million to implement the paperless system.

Meanwhile, the DoCSM in coordination with the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) is carrying out a study to assess the actual demand and supply situation of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The DoCSM has been certifying LPG depots, while the NOC has almost completed certifying LPG cylinders with bottling plants.

Koirala said the move was aimed at addressing the shortage of cooking gas that appeared time and again. “After completing the assessment, we will also revise the quota provided to the bottlers to import the cooking gas,” he said.

Source: The Kathmandu Post