Kathmandu, Jan. 24
The Nepal Foreign
Trade Association (NFTA) has demanded the removal of the customs manual on
valuation (database) used by the customs offices recently.
"The
manual has added challenges the guidance of the World Trade Organization to
recognise the transaction value, and has legitimised the misappropriation of foreign
currency," President of NFTA, Binod Kumar Sethia said in an interaction
organised by the Association on the occasion of the 72nd International
Customs Day in Kathmandu on Tuesday evening.
He also
emphasised on the stability of customs policy and leadership. "There is no
indication of when the policy will be changed. Due to this, domestic and
foreign investors are always suspicious. What kind of prosperity are we trying
to achieve on the basis of political instability?'' Sethia asked.
He demanded
that the harmonic system code of 10 digits should be maintained for the
classification of goods, and said that the practice of changing the
classification for the purpose of collecting more tax should be ended.
Stating
that high customs duty is promoting unauthorised trade, he suggested that
customs should be levied on the unit of imported goods to reduce
under-invoicing and to protect the domestic industry.
According
to Sethia, if discounts are given on the air cargo while determining the
customs duty of goods entering the country from air cargo, traffic will
increase at the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa and Pokhara
International Airport.
He
demanded that the import and export (EXIM) code number should be valid for five
years, and the rules for canceling the EXIM code of companies that have stopped
trading should be simple. He emphasized on the need to increase mutual trust
between the government and the private sector to control the import and trade
of duplicate goods.
Stating that
import has decreased but revenue has increased recently, he said that when
economic activity, industry, and trade increase, revenue increase will be sustainable
and natural.
Dr. Krishna
Hari Pushkar, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance expressed his commitment to
solve the real problems raised by the NFTA immediately by discussing with the
relevant agencies. Saying that businessmen also have problems, he advised
businessmen to work honestly.
Dr.
Pushkar also said that he is ready for the reforms in the law and technology
upgrades.
Vice
President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) suggested increasing
the number of goods imported through the green channel of customs, reducing the
time taken at the customs point, and implementing the system of trusted trader
in various places including customs.
He said
that the country should promote domestic production by discouraging the import
of the goods that the country is self-reliant of has the potential to be
self-sufficient in.
Hemraj
Dhakal, VP of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry,
emphasised the need to review the SAFTA and customs tariff rates. He also said
that revenue should be increased by increasing business activities.
The
Director General of the Inland Revenue Department, Dirgha Raj Mainali, said
that structural changes are taking place in the tax system. He said that he is
always ready to listen to the problems and complaints of the tax sector and
asked them to talk to him directly in case of any problem.
Director
General of Customs Department, Shobhakant Paudel, said that the problem has
arisen due to lack of clean and transparent trade.
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