Imports from Tatopani border point, a major customs point between Nepal and China, have become easier.
At present, up to 20 cargo containers are entering Nepal from China daily, said Narad Gautam, Chief of Tatopani Dry Port Customs Office.
Before the Tihar festival, only eight containers had been entering Nepal from China through this border point.
Gautam said that chemical fertilisers, apples, walnuts, readymade garments, shoes and other goods are being imported to Nepal from China through Tatopani customs.
However, the businessmen said that above 100 containers carrying goods imported by Nepali traders are still blocked in the Chinese territory.
President of the Nepal Himalayan Cross-Border Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ashok Kumar Shrestha informed that the import was taking place smoothly through the checkpoint on the initiative of the government of Nepal.
He said that the import from the Tatopani checkpoint had increased as per the requests of the businessmen affiliated to the checkpoint led by the association to the concerned stakeholders, including Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and Consulate General.
“The Chinese side is gradually increasing exports which is good for us,” he said.
China had been delaying to send cargo containers through Tatopani port considering the roads, infrastructure and floods and landslides towards Nepal.
President Shrestha informed that the trade relations between China and Nepal would increase if the roads and bridges along the Tatopani border were made systematic.
The business at Tatopani market has increased after the ease of operation of the checkpoint.
The process of opening and closing the checkpoint has been going on since 2071 BS. The government has been losing more than Rs. 6 billion rupees in revenue due to less than optimal operation of the checkpoint.
Chief of the Division Roads Office, Charikot, Arjun Suwal said that a long-term project has been prepared for upgrading the dilapidated road at the border.
Source : TRN,
