Kathmandu, June 1: The government
has announced to curtail the sales and distribution of counterfeit goods and
strengthen market monitoring against the fake and counterfeit items.
"The government will ensure the standard
and quality in the domestically produced goods and will curb the sales of
products that imitate established national and international brands," said
Finance Minister Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada, who included the provision in the budget
for the Fiscal Year 2019/20.
The budget also commits to identify
agricultural goods that need to be charged with anti-dumping duties in import
and implement the policy. Likewise, anti-dumping and countervailing law would
be effectively implemented to discourage the unnecessary import along with the
export promotion to control the growing trade deficit.
Dr. Khatiwada also said that the import of
luxury goods and the products that might have negative impact on human health
will be discouraged. A new standard for food items and beverages will be
announced and goods below that quality would not be allowed in the market.
The government is set to fulfill the tea
entrepreneurs demand to establish international-level lab to certify the quality
of tea produced in Nepal. The establishment of the lab will promote the export
of Nepali organic orthodox tea. Similarly, an auction house will be established
to ensure market of domestically produced tea in the country.
The budget also says that agriculture, forest
and mineral-based industrial products would be branded and promoted in the
international market. The gem and jewelry entrepreneurs have long been
demanding the government support in branding their products in the
international markets. They have also planning for the collective branding of
the gem and jewelry products.
The government has addressed their demand to
establish a gemstone processing centre, and has allocated budget for the
establishment of such facility in Surkhet, the capital of Karnali province. Karnali
has some of the largest precious and semi-precious stones reserves in the
country.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 2 June 2019.
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