Nepal‚ China mull over opening Rasuwagadi trade route this year
KATHMANDU:
Nepal and China are mulling over opening Rasuwagadi route for international trade within 2014 so as to provide an alternative roadway for imports and exports of goods between the two countries.
Currently, Tatopani in Sindhupalchowk district is the only land route from where international trade between the two neighbouring countries is being conducted.
“If things go according to plan, an alternative route from Rasuwagadi would be opened as early as October,” a senior official at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies told The Himalayan Times on condition of anonymity.
The Chinese government also gave confirmation on opening of the route, but fell short of disclosing the exact month. “Plans are afoot to bring the Rasuwagadi route into operation within 2014, and both the governments have agreed to it,” Peng Wei, counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, told THT.
The route is being opened as part of Nepali and Chinese governments’ plan to establish three ports for international trade at Tatopani, Rasuwagadi and Yari. Another three routes, including those at Kimathanka and Lizi, would be used for bilateral trade, especially frontier trade.
Once the route from Rasuwagadi is opened, traffic on Arniko Highway — which is currently the only land route to carry out international trade between two countries — is expected to come down. “This will eventually help in boosting bilateral trade between two countries,” the commerce ministry official said.
Rasuwagadi could be reached from Galchhi in Dhading, Kakani or Tokha. “Black-topped roads have already been built to reach Nepal-China border,” the official informed. “Also, customs and quarantine offices have been established on the Nepali side of the border to facilitate trade.”
The commerce ministry, meanwhile, has also requested the Ministry of Home Affairs to establish an immigration office at the border point. Currently, works related to visa processing are being carried out by the border administration under the home ministry.
“To provide similar services from the Chinese side, the Chinese government has already agreed to build immigration, customs and quarantine offices in the bordering area within October,” the official said, adding, “These basic infrastructure would lay the groundwork to carry out trading activities via the area where an inland container depot (ICD) is being established.”
China has already agreed to extend support to build an ICD, or dry port, in Rasuwagadi to strengthen Nepal’s trade infrastructure and narrow down trade deficit between the two countries.
Nepal exported goods worth Rs 1.48 billion in the first six months of the current fiscal, up 5.4 per cent than in the same period last fiscal, while imported goods worth Rs 38.25 billion from the northern neighbour in the same period, show statistics of the Trade and Export Promotion Centre.
Source: THT
