KATHMANDU, Jan 9, 2012
Nepal and India are holding a high-level meeting later this week to resolve existing procedural hassles that Nepali traders are facing while importing and exporting goods via Kolkata port.
A team led by Naindra Prasad Upadhyaya, joint-secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS), is visiting India to study facilities and administrative process in Kolkata and Visakhapatnam ports
The team, which will be in India between Jan 13 and 16, will hold talks with senior Indian officials to explore ways for resolving problems being faced by Nepali traders in Kolkata port and ease customs clearance process there.
The delegation will have representatives from Nepal Freight Forwarders´ Association (NFFFA), Nepal Inter-Modal Transport Development Board (NITDB) and Department of Customs (DoC).
“Nepali traders have long been complaining about procedural hassles and poor infrastructures in Kolkata port. We will study existing infrastructures and customs clearance procedures at the port and will also visit Vishakhapatnam port, which is expected to be operationalized for Nepal´s overseas trade soon,” Upadhyaya told Republica on Sunday.
Upadhyaya said the team will study documentation process at the port and impact of additional one-time lock system imposed by India on Nepal bound containers carrying overseas imports. We will ascertain the number of days required to complete the process for inward and outward shipment of goods, he added.
Due to private sector´s conflicting views on the benefits and disadvantages of additional lock system introduced in Kolkata port, the government is still indecisive about accepting such provision when Visakhapatnam is brought into operation for Nepal´s overseas trade.
The southern neighbor had unilaterally imposed the additional one-time lock on Nepal bound cargo leaving Kolkata port from Aug 1, 2011, despite Nepal´s repeated request not to enforce the system.
“We will assess the customs clearance and documentation process at Kolkata port and study the facilities available at privately-run Visakhapatnam. The team will also study pros and cons of additional lock system and recommend to the government to take necessary measures to mitigate problems at the port,” added Upadhyaya.
Traders say they have been facing hosts of problems, including huge demurrage charge due to delay in clearance of goods, during delivery of goods in Kolkata port.
Administrative hassles, congestion and low draft berth are the major problems that Nepali traders are facing while clearing goods through the poorly managed Kolkata port.
Nepal and India had agreed to take initiatives to resolve the problems at Kolkata port during the recently held Nepal-India Inter-governmental Committee (IGC) -- secretary level -- meeting in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, the MoCS is preparing to hold trade talks with Bangladesh next month to explore new avenues for boosting bi-lateral trade and removing existing barriers. “Most possibly we will hold the talks in mid-Feb. But the date has yet to be finalized,” added Upadhyaya.
Source: Republica
Nepal and India are holding a high-level meeting later this week to resolve existing procedural hassles that Nepali traders are facing while importing and exporting goods via Kolkata port.
A team led by Naindra Prasad Upadhyaya, joint-secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS), is visiting India to study facilities and administrative process in Kolkata and Visakhapatnam ports
The team, which will be in India between Jan 13 and 16, will hold talks with senior Indian officials to explore ways for resolving problems being faced by Nepali traders in Kolkata port and ease customs clearance process there.
The delegation will have representatives from Nepal Freight Forwarders´ Association (NFFFA), Nepal Inter-Modal Transport Development Board (NITDB) and Department of Customs (DoC).
“Nepali traders have long been complaining about procedural hassles and poor infrastructures in Kolkata port. We will study existing infrastructures and customs clearance procedures at the port and will also visit Vishakhapatnam port, which is expected to be operationalized for Nepal´s overseas trade soon,” Upadhyaya told Republica on Sunday.
Upadhyaya said the team will study documentation process at the port and impact of additional one-time lock system imposed by India on Nepal bound containers carrying overseas imports. We will ascertain the number of days required to complete the process for inward and outward shipment of goods, he added.
Due to private sector´s conflicting views on the benefits and disadvantages of additional lock system introduced in Kolkata port, the government is still indecisive about accepting such provision when Visakhapatnam is brought into operation for Nepal´s overseas trade.
The southern neighbor had unilaterally imposed the additional one-time lock on Nepal bound cargo leaving Kolkata port from Aug 1, 2011, despite Nepal´s repeated request not to enforce the system.
“We will assess the customs clearance and documentation process at Kolkata port and study the facilities available at privately-run Visakhapatnam. The team will also study pros and cons of additional lock system and recommend to the government to take necessary measures to mitigate problems at the port,” added Upadhyaya.
Traders say they have been facing hosts of problems, including huge demurrage charge due to delay in clearance of goods, during delivery of goods in Kolkata port.
Administrative hassles, congestion and low draft berth are the major problems that Nepali traders are facing while clearing goods through the poorly managed Kolkata port.
Nepal and India had agreed to take initiatives to resolve the problems at Kolkata port during the recently held Nepal-India Inter-governmental Committee (IGC) -- secretary level -- meeting in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, the MoCS is preparing to hold trade talks with Bangladesh next month to explore new avenues for boosting bi-lateral trade and removing existing barriers. “Most possibly we will hold the talks in mid-Feb. But the date has yet to be finalized,” added Upadhyaya.
Source: Republica
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