Kathmandu, May 8: The
government is set to mobilise teams for the field inspection and study about
the time, cost and required infrastructure for using the additional border
points in the north and seven Chinese ports.
"Two teams will be
mobilised for the field inspection and survey to find out what should we need
to do while operating trade through the new border points with China,"
said Commerce Secretary Kedar Bahadur Adhikari at a press meet organised at the
Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply on Tuesday.
He said that the cost
of trade will be analysed in terms of doing business with the third country,
and consultations with the private sector organisations would also be organised
before making the final decisions.
According to him, Nepal
should also be clear about the transport mechanisms during the winter as most
part of the high mountains is covered with snow.
A secretary-led
Intergovernmental Committee and joint-secretary-led Technical Committee are
working to facilitate two-side dialogues.
With the signing of the
Protocol on Transit Agreement on 29 April, Nepal has the facility to use seven
Chinese ports and some dry ports and six border points can be used to trade
with China.
"Nepal can use its
own transport service up to Sigatse port and Chinese transports can directly
come to dry port in Nepal side," said Adhikari.
He said that the
government was working to upgrade the road infrastructure connecting Tatopani
and Rasuwagadhi border in order to facilitate trade between the two countries.
"The dry port at
Tatopani will come in operation soon. Minister for Transport had promised to
upgrade the Arniko Highway. Similarly, road to Syaphrubesi will be blacktopped
in two years. We want to develop it as a major trade route," he said.
China is Nepal's second
largest trade partner. Nepal exports goods worth Rs. 2.4 billion and imports of
Rs. 160 billion.
In the last five years,
imports have doubled but exports gone down.
In Fiscal Year 2013/14,
Nepal exported goods worth Rs. 2.9 billion to China and imported goods amounting
to Rs. 78 billion.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 9 May 2019.
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