Economic Times
PTI
October 14, 2015
KATHMANDU: Nepal’s business community has placed high hopes on the reopening of Nepal-China border ports that were closed after the massive earthquake in April, saying the commencement of trade through the route would boost their confidence and help import essential goods and recover losses.
With Kerung, a major border port in China’s Tibet region, commencing operations from tomorrow, border entrepreneurs are hopeful that the import of Chinese goods would help them recover their losses said Rajesh Kaji Shrestha, President of Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
“The Re-opening of Kerung check point at Rasuwagadhi in the east of Kathmandu has brought some relief to the traders as it eases the import of essential goods, boosting our confidence in trade,” Shrestha told PTI.
Goods such as clothing, fruits, shoes and electronic items are mainly brought to Kathmandu through the route, according to Shrestha.
More than 400 trucks loaded with various goods have been stranded at Tatopani — the largest Nepal-China border port — for the past six months as the roads on both sides of the border were damaged due to the temblor that hit the country in April.
Shrestha, a former assistant minister for commerce and supplies, advised that opening of more China-Nepal border ports will help ease the situation as businesses have been hit due to the Madhesi-led blockade on India-Nepal border check points in the southern plains.
The Madhesis — Indian-origin inhabitants of the southern plains — and Tharu ethnic groups are protesting for more representation in Nepal’s newly promulgated Constitution. And their protests have hit trade via Indian border check points.
Compared to the port in Kolkata, Kerung is also very much close to Kathmandu, Shrestha pointed out, referring to the cost incurred by traders over transportation.
“The more border ports in mountainous areas, the more will be the trade volume and growth,” Shrestha said.
Nepal can also import sheep and goat from Tibet in the Vijaya Dashami festival, he said.
The border point will take 10-12 days before it gets fully operational, Shrestha added.
The other trade port with China, Tatopani, some 130 kilometres east from Kathmandu, is likely to get operational in two weeks.
