KATHMANDU, JUN 08 - 2013
Indian authority’s notification to Nepali importers of third country ( other than India) vehicles that they should either use rail wagan or container to deliver the vehicles to Nepal has resulted in piling up more than 200 Nepal-bound vehicles at Kolkata port for one and half months.
Officials of the authorised dealers of cars made in countries other than India said that imports from brands like Toyota, Skoda, Mazda, Ford, Kia, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Hyundai and Chevrolet, among others, have been stranded at the port since April 23. They said that the delay had caused them massive losses.
Normally, vehicles imported from third countries arrive at Kolkata port by ship and are driven to Nepal. After they clear customs at the border, they are again driven to their respective showrooms or godowns. “We have been in talks with the government and the Indian Embassy to resolve the issue as soon as possible. We have learnt that the Ministry of Finance has written to the Indian Finance Ministry,” said Suraj Vaidya, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). Vaidya’s firm United Traders Syndicate imports Toyota automobiles from Japan.
A Commerce Ministry official confirmed that a letter had been sent to the Indian authorities through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, according to Vaidya, around 80 Toyota vehicles have been stranded at Kolkata port . “It is very difficult to bring vehicles to Nepal by using carriers. The existing system of driving imported vehicles to Nepal must be continued.”
Similarly, Saurabh Jyoti, president of the Nepal Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), said the harsh directive from the Indian authorities is difficult to follow since Kolkata port lacks essential equipment like cranes and ramps.
“From the perspective of both cost and infrastructure, I think the current way of importing vehicles should be continued,” Jyoti added.
“If we were to transport cars to Nepal by vehicle carrier, the cost would go up by at least Rs 150,000 per unit.” He said that customers, who are already paying 248 percent import duty on motor vehicles, would be hit hard by the additional cost.
As imported vehicles are stuck at Kolkata port , Nepali dealers are having a hard time explaining things to their customers. “If the situation continues any longer, we might not be able to deliver vehicles on time to customers who have booked them,” said Mahesh Dhakal, senior sales and marketing officer of the Padmashree Group, the authorised importer of Mazda cars from Japan. According to him, around 16 Mazdas are stuck at Kolkata port .
Indian authority’s notification to Nepali importers of third country ( other than India) vehicles that they should either use rail wagan or container to deliver the vehicles to Nepal has resulted in piling up more than 200 Nepal-bound vehicles at Kolkata port for one and half months.
Officials of the authorised dealers of cars made in countries other than India said that imports from brands like Toyota, Skoda, Mazda, Ford, Kia, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Hyundai and Chevrolet, among others, have been stranded at the port since April 23. They said that the delay had caused them massive losses.
Normally, vehicles imported from third countries arrive at Kolkata port by ship and are driven to Nepal. After they clear customs at the border, they are again driven to their respective showrooms or godowns. “We have been in talks with the government and the Indian Embassy to resolve the issue as soon as possible. We have learnt that the Ministry of Finance has written to the Indian Finance Ministry,” said Suraj Vaidya, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). Vaidya’s firm United Traders Syndicate imports Toyota automobiles from Japan.
A Commerce Ministry official confirmed that a letter had been sent to the Indian authorities through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, according to Vaidya, around 80 Toyota vehicles have been stranded at Kolkata port . “It is very difficult to bring vehicles to Nepal by using carriers. The existing system of driving imported vehicles to Nepal must be continued.”
Similarly, Saurabh Jyoti, president of the Nepal Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), said the harsh directive from the Indian authorities is difficult to follow since Kolkata port lacks essential equipment like cranes and ramps.
“From the perspective of both cost and infrastructure, I think the current way of importing vehicles should be continued,” Jyoti added.
“If we were to transport cars to Nepal by vehicle carrier, the cost would go up by at least Rs 150,000 per unit.” He said that customers, who are already paying 248 percent import duty on motor vehicles, would be hit hard by the additional cost.
As imported vehicles are stuck at Kolkata port , Nepali dealers are having a hard time explaining things to their customers. “If the situation continues any longer, we might not be able to deliver vehicles on time to customers who have booked them,” said Mahesh Dhakal, senior sales and marketing officer of the Padmashree Group, the authorised importer of Mazda cars from Japan. According to him, around 16 Mazdas are stuck at Kolkata port .
Source: The Kathmandu Post
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