Nepal, India to discuss ways to ease transhipment
KATHMANDU, MAR 04 - Nepal and India will discuss ways to facilitate transhipment of Nepal -bound cargo from third countries after the southern neighbour agreed to allow customs clearance to be done at the customs points on the border.
Currently, all the imports from third countries are required to clear India n customs in Kolkata. India had agreed to simplify the transhipment process to help Nepal i importers cut costs during a commerce secretary-level Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) meeting held in December in Kathmandu.
A delegation from the Commerce Ministry is scheduled to visit the southern neighbour in the second week of March to discuss the modality of clearance of goods at the customs points on the India n border.
“We have started preparing a format of the modality in coordination with the Department of Customs before heading for negotiations,” said an official of the Commerce Ministry.
Nepal i importers have been complaining that they are being forced to wait in a long queue at Kolkata port to clear their cargo through customs. Delays in clearance mean that they have to pay hefty amounts as demurrage.
If customs clearance is allowed to be done at points on the Nepal - India border, it is expected to shorten time-consuming procedures and reduce the costs for Nepal i traders. It could also help boost competitiveness of Nepal i goods.
Chandra Kumar Ghimire, Nepal ’s consulate general in Kolkata, said that high-level government officials from India and Nepal would be meeting in Kolkata shortly for the purpose. However, he declined to mention the date of the planned meeting. According to Ghimire, they will discuss developing a proper modality of transhipment. Recently, the India n government has started implementing a number of agreements including developing infrastructure at border customs points to facilitate bilateral trade.
The two countries have amended the transit treaty enabling re-export of goods from Nepal to third countries through India . This provision will facilitate Nepal ’s genuine third country exports of goods imported for the purpose of displaying them at fairs and exhibitions.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
