Trade thru Rasuwagadhi customs increasing

RASUWA, Feb 5: Rasuagadhi Customs Office is mobilizing revenue to the tune of Rs 3 million every day after the customs office re-opened for business.

The customs point along Nepal-China border was closed for about a month due to massive snowfall in nearby Tibetan towns of Shigatse and Keirung.

Shambhu Bahadur Khadka, chief of Rasuagadhi Customs Office, said the customs office has mobilize Rs 330 million so far.

The government has targeted to collect Rs 800 million from the customs point in the current fiscal year.

According to Khadka, importers were facing problem in shipment of goods to the customs point due to limited number of daily pass provided to drivers of containers to travel to Keirung.

Readymade clothes for summer and footwear are the major goods being imported from China through the customs point.

Man Bahadur Tamang, chairman of Nepal China Keirung Trade Association, said the re-opening of customs point have resumed business activities in the area. "As the customs point has resumed operation, containers struck in Keirung due to snowfall are gradually entering Nepal. Shipments diverted toward Tatopani customs are also being brought to Rasuwagadhi," he added.

Around 15 containers enter Nepal through the customs point every day. Though there are half a dozen customs points along Nepal-China border, Rasuwagadhi is the nearest customs point bordering China from the Indian border. The customs point is also said to be crucial for Indo-China trade.

China has been putting Rasuwagadhi customs point in priority as Nepal-India borders in Birgunj and Bhairahawa are nearer from Rasuwagadhi compared to other customs offices along Nepal-China border.

Source: myRepulica