Industrialists call for streamlined customs procedures

Kathmandu, Jan. 23

Industrialists and businessmen have suggested the government make customs clearance procedures more convenient and hassle-free.

They have an impression that the Nepali customs administration has given high priority to revenue collection in some cases and said that the government could collect revenue through illegal trade control and customs facilitation.

Speaking at the 73^rd International Customs Day and Customs Clearance and Trade Facilitation Interaction Programme organised at the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) on the eve of Customs Day, industrialists and businesspeople said that if customs rates were reviewed by clarifying finished goods, raw materials and intermediate goods, the production sector could witness a boost and its contribution to the economy could be increased.

Speaking on the occasion, Finance Secretary Dr. Ram Prasad Ghimire said that the government has been making policy reforms to facilitate private-sector investment. He said that the main objective of customs was not revenue collection but trade facilitation and export promotion. “Exports play a major role in the country’s economic development. We are working on how to facilitate our industrialists and businessmen. The government has also been making policy reforms. The recent policy reforms have also made for the same purpose," he said.

Similarly, Dr. Ghimire mentioned that since a large part of Nepal’s foreign trade is with India, problems are also arising in trade with India, and he opined that the Nepal-India 'Customs Mutual Agreement' to be concluded in the near future would solve those problems. He also emphasised the need to encourage the new generation in business in the context of the current world moving from traditional trade to modernity.

President of the FNCCI, Chandra Prasad Dhakal, said that since all customs activities have a direct impact on industry and trade, it is necessary to be directed towards creating a healthy business environment. “For a country with an import-based economy like Nepal, customs not only collect revenue, it also helps in organising the entire country’s supply chain and promoting investment equally,” he said.

He said that since physical infrastructure, along with technology, also has an important contribution to trade facilitation, timely attention should be paid to completing the construction of Integrated Check Posts under construction and expanding additional infrastructure in other large and important customs offices.

Hari Sharan Pudasaini, Director General of the Department of Customs, stated that the national policy has been to promote industry and business and said that the customs administration was working to keep the morale of businessmen high.

He said that the customs administration was moving forward to implement the policies formulated by the International Customs Organisation, facilitate customs and make the best use of technology. Pudasaini also said that everyone should be honest in favour of economic discipline.

International Customs Day is celebrated every year on January 26.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 January 2025.