प्रधानमन्त्रीको चीन भ्रमणः ल्हासामा सुन छ, कान मेरो बुच्चै

प्रधानमन्त्री पुष्पकमल दाहाल आफ्नो एक साता लामो चीन भ्रमणपछि शनिबार ल्हासाबाट काठमाडौं फर्कदै छन् । तर, जम्बो सरकारी टोली लिएर तामझामका साथ गत शनिबार न्यूयोर्कबाट सिधैं चीन पुगेका प्रधानमन्त्री दाहालको उत्तरी छिमेकीको भ्रमण भने ‘ल्हासामा सुन छ, कान मेरो बुच्चै’ भनेझैं भएको छ ।

व्यापारविद् पुरुषोत्तम ओझाकाअनुसार पहिला-पहिला भएका सम्झौताका विषयहरुमात्र दोहोरिने तर कार्यान्वयनमा नजाने कमजोरीका कारण नेपालको चीनसँगको व्यापार घाटा चुलिदो छ ।

व्यापार तथा निर्यात प्रवर्धन केन्द्रको तथ्यांकअनुसार गत आर्थिक वर्षमा चीनसँग नेपालको व्यापार घाटा २ खर्ब २० अर्ब ९५ करोड छ । नेपालले गत आर्थिक वर्ष २०७९/ ८० मा चीनतर्फ १ अर्ब ७६ करोडको मात्र वस्तु निर्यात गरेकोमा चीनबाट भने २ खर्ब २२ अर्ब ७१ करोडको वस्तु आयात गरेको थियो ।

२०७२ सालको भूकम्पपछि नै चीनतर्फका नाका नियमित सञ्चालन भएनन् । कहिले भूकम्प, कहिले कोरोना त कहिले अन्य कारणले सिन्धुपाल्चोकको तातोपानी तथा रसुवाको केरुङ नाका नियमित सञ्चालनमा नआउँदा चीनतर्फ नेपालको निर्यात खुम्चेको छ । ‘नेपालले चीनमा पनि विशेषतः तिब्बतमा निर्यात गर्ने हो’, ओझा भन्छन्, ‘तर चीनको नाकाबन्दीले तिब्बततिरको निर्यात घट्दा समग्रमा नै नेपालको निर्यात खुम्चेको हो ।’

केन्द्रको तथ्यांकअनुसार गत एक दशकमा नेपालले सबैभन्दा धेरै निर्यात आव २०७४/७५मा गरेको छ । आव २०७४/७५ मा २ अर्ब ४७ करोडको निर्यात गरेको नेपालले त्यसअघि वा त्यसपछि पनि गत आवसम्ममा २ अर्बको निर्यात गर्न हम्मे हम्मे परेको देखिन्छ ।

तर आयात भने विगत एक दशकमा नै १ खर्बभन्दा बढी मात्र नभएर कुनै आवमा साढे २ खर्ब पनि नाघेको छ । साढे २ खर्ब र जम्मा २ अर्बको बीचको व्यापारको खाडल मेट्न ६ जना मन्त्री सहितको प्रधानमन्त्री भ्रमणको जम्बो सरकारी टोलीले घुमघामबाट फुर्सद् पाए कि पाएनन् होला, आगामी दिनमा देखिने नै छ ।

व्यापारविद् ओझाकाअनुसार व्यापार अभिवृद्धिको पहिलो शर्त नै सहज सडक सञ्जाल हो । नेपालले चीनसँगको व्यापार बढाउन नाकासम्म पुग्ने अत्यावश्यक सडक निर्माण तथा स्तरोन्नतीमा जोड दिन सकेको छैन । हरेक पटक काठमाडौं वा बेइजिङबाट हुने उच्चस्तरीय भ्रमण अगाडि तथा पछाडि केहि दिन यी नाका खुल्छन् फेरि बन्द भै हाल्छन् ।

यसपटकको संयुक्त वक्तव्यमा पनि नेपाललाई भूपरिवेष्टित मुलुकबाट भू–जडित मुलुकमा परिणत गर्न चीनको पारवहन यातायात र राजमार्गको उपयोगसम्बन्धी यसअघि हस्ताक्षर गरिएका सहयोगसम्बन्धी दस्तावेजहरू कार्यान्वयनलाई निरन्तरता दिन दुबै पक्ष सहमत भएका छन् ।

संयुक्त वक्तव्यका अनुसार नेपालको आवश्यकतालाई मध्यनजर गर्दै अरनिको राजमार्ग मर्मतसम्भार आयोजनाको चौथो चरणको काम सुरू गर्न चिनियाँ पक्ष तयार भएको छ । त्यस्तै, स्याफ्रुबेसी–रसुवागढी राजमार्ग मर्मतको काम चाँडो सुरु गर्न पनि चिनियाँ पक्ष सहमत भएको छ ।

हरेकपटका उच्चस्तरीय भ्रमणमा उहि कुराहरु आउँछन् तर कार्यान्वयनको तहसम्म आइपुग्दैनन् । जस्तै, करिब एक दशकदेखि केरुङ नाकाबाट हुने व्यापार सहजीकरणको लागी स्याफ्रुबेशीको बाटो स्तरोन्नतीको चर्चा भइरहेको छ तर कार्यान्वयन भएको छैन । यसैगरि, तातोपानी नाका पुग्ने बाटोको दूरावस्थामा पनि परिवर्तन आएको छैन ।

लिजी–नेचुङ बन्दरगाह सञ्चालन र यात्रु सेवाका लागि झाङ्मु–खासा बन्दरगाह पुनः सञ्चालन गरिएकोमा काठमाडौं बेइजिङ दुबै पक्षले स्वागत गरेका छन् । लिजी–नेचुङ बन्दरगाहमा नेपाली पक्षको सुविधाका लागि यथाशीघ्र सुधार गर्न सहयोग गर्ने प्रतिवद्धता पनि चिनियाँ पक्षले जनाएको छ ।

पुलान र जिलोङ बन्दरगाहमा यात्रु र कार्गो सेवाको सहज तथा व्यवस्थित सञ्चालनका लागि दुबै पक्षले प्रशंसा गरेका छन् । वक्तब्यकाअनुसार परम्परागत रूपमा सञ्चालन भइरहेका चीन–नेपाल सीमा व्यापार नाकाहरू पुनः खोल्न पनि चीन सहमत भएको छ । चेन्ताङ–किमाथाङ्का, रिवु–ओलाङचुङ्गोला बन्दरगाहलाई छिट्टै खोल्नका लागि निरन्तर सम्पर्क गर्ने विषयमा दुबै पक्ष सहमत भएका छन् ।

यसपटक पनि दुई देशबीचको यातायात सञ्जाल बिस्तार गर्न टोखा–छहरे सुरूङमार्गको सम्भाव्यता अध्ययन चाडो टुङ्गाउन, काठमाडौंको दोस्रो चरणको चक्रपथ विस्तार आयोजनालाई तीव्र गतिमा अघि बढाउन दुबै देश सहमत भएका छन् ।

साथै, जिलोङ–केरुङ–काठमाडौं अन्तरदेशीय रेलवेको सम्भाव्यता अध्ययनको प्रगतिप्रति सन्तुष्टि जनाउदै चीन–नेपाल रेलवे सहयोगसम्बन्धी आठौं कार्यदलको बैठक यथाशक्य चाँडो गर्नेमा पनि नेपाल–चीनबीच सहमति भएको छ । चिनियाँ पक्षले नेपालमा रेलवेसग सम्बन्धित तालिम दिन पनि तयार भएको छ ।

विगतको अनुभवका आधारमा भन्ने हो भने, यो संयुक्त वक्तव्यको मसी सुकिसक्दा पनि कार्यान्वयनमा भने न काठमाडौं न बेइजिङ, दुबैले त्यति वास्ता गर्ने छैनन् । र अर्को उच्चस्तरीय भ्रमणमा यी बुँदाहरु फेरि पनि दोहोरिने छन् ।

तर, बाटो सहज हुँदैमा मात्र नेपालको निर्यात बढ्ने होइन, झनै आयात बढ्न पनि सक्छ, व्यापारघाटाको खाडल झन् बढ्न सक्छ । त्यसैले निर्यात बढाउन चिनियाँ बजारलक्षित नेपाली वस्तुको उत्पादनमा पनि जोड दिनु आवश्यक छ ।

चीनले नेपालसहितका अतिकम विकसित मुलुकहरूबाट निर्यात हुने ९८ वस्तुहरूमा भन्सार शुल्क शून्य सुबिधा दिएको छ । त्यसबाहेक पनि चीनले नेपालका करिब ८ हजार वस्तुको निर्यातमा भन्सार शुल्क मिनाहा गरेको छ । तर, त्यसको फाइदा नेपालले उठाउन सकेको छैन । किनकि नेपालमा ती भन्सार शुल्क मिनाहामा सूचीकृत वस्तुहरुको गुणस्तरीय उत्पादन तथा चिनियाँ बजारको मागअनुरुपको परिमाणमा निर्यात गर्न सक्ने क्षमता छैन ।

चिनियाँ बजारको मागअनुरुपको परिमाण तथा गुणस्तरमा नेपाली वस्तु उत्पादकहरुको चासो तथा रुची नभएको उद्योग मन्त्रालयका एक अधिकारीले बताए । उनका अनुसार नेपाली वस्तु निर्यातमा भएका क्वारन्टाइनमा समस्या तथा गैरभन्सार अवरोध त छँदैछ, त्यसबाहेक पनि नेपालका आफनै कमजोरी पनि चीनतर्फ नेपाली निर्यात नबढ्नुको कारण हो ।

यसका साथै, चीनसँग निरन्तर व्यापार नबढ्नुको कारण भने नेपाली तथा चिनियाँ मुद्राबीचको परिवर्त्य दर पनि एउटा प्रमुख कारण रहेको मन्त्रालयको अध्ययन रहेको उनको भनाइ छ ।

त्यसैले चीन भ्रमणमा रहेका प्रधानमन्त्री दाहाल र उनका चिनियाँ समकक्षी ली छ्याङबीच प्रतिनिधिमण्डलस्तरीय वार्तापछि जारी संयुक्त वक्तव्यमा व्यापार प्रवर्द्धन तथा सहजीकरण, कूटनीतिक सम्बन्ध विस्तार तथा क्षेत्रीय सहयोगका लागि सहकार्य गर्ने विषयमा सहमति भएको भनिए पनि कुटनीतिकरुपमा यस्ता वक्तव्यको अर्थ त होला तर काठमाडौं र बेइजिङबीच देखिने गरि आर्थिक सम्बन्ध कसिलो हुनुको साटो ब्यावहारिकरुपमा झन् खुकुलो हुँदै गएको पाइन्छ ।

राजनीति हाबी, आर्थिक कूटनीति फेल

व्यापारमात्र नभएर नेपालमा चीनको लगानी पनि उल्लेख्य आएको देखिन्न । नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकको आर्थिक अनुसन्धान विभागले गरेको अनुसन्धान प्रतिवेदनका अनुसार २०७९ असार मसान्तसम्ममा नेपालमा ५७ देशको प्रत्यक्ष वैदेशिक लगानी रहेकोमा चीन दोस्रो स्थानमा छ । तर, पहिलो हुने भारत र दोस्रो हुने चीनबीच लगानी रकममा दोब्बरभन्दा बढी फरक छ ।

प्रतिवेदनका अनुसार भारतबाट सबैभन्दा बढी ८८ अर्ब ५९ करोड वैदेशिक लगानी आउँदा चीनबाट जम्मा ३३ अर्ब ४५ करोडमात्र लगानी आएको छ ।

कुनै समय नेपालमा भित्रने वैदेशिक लगानीमा पहिलो स्थानमा रहेको चीन पछिल्ला वर्षहरुमा नेपालमा लगानी बढाउन चासो नदिनु नेपालप्रति चीनको विश्वासमा आएको कमी तथा नेपालको कमजोर आर्थिक कूटनीतिको परिणाम हो ।

जसका कारण पछिल्ला वर्षहरुमा उत्तरी छिमेकि नेपालको विकासमा भन्दा पनि राजनीतिमा बडि सकृय रहेको आरोप लाग्न थालेको छ । विश्वको एक नम्बर अर्थतन्त्र बन्ने लक्ष्यका साथ अगाडि बढेको छिमेकिबाट नेपालले कुनै आर्थिक फाइदा लिन नसक्नुमा नेपालका राजनीतिक दल अनि नीति निर्माताको पनि असफलता हो । (https://clickmandu.com/2023/09/268812.html)

Pristine Valley bags contract to operate Birgunj ICD

 Pristine Valley Dryport Pvt Ltd has been awarded the contract to manage and operate the Inland Clearance Depot (ICD) at Sirsiya in Birgunj district. Since the inception, the port has been managed and handled by Indian government entity CONCOR through its local counterpart Himalayan Terminals Pvt Ltd. The new management has taken over the operation and management of the dryport at the special function organised within the port premises at Sirsiya in Birgunj today.

“In the 16 years of establishment and operation of the dryport, the management of the dry port has been transferred to a fully private venture for the first time, according to director of Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board – the regulatory authority of Dryports in Nepal – HM Shahi.

“We are hopeful that the trade will benefit with this new development that has taken place in Nepal’s only rail linked terminal which handles more than 50 per cent of containerised traffic of the country,” he said.

Birgunj Inland Dry Port was constructed between 2000 and 2004 AD, and came into operation to facilitate trade. Established in 38 hectares property, the port has the storage capacity to manage over 4,500 containers and is rail linked with Raxaul in India connecting to harbours in Kolkata and Vishakapatnam via Indian Railways network.

Indian stakeholder of Pristine Valley Dry Port, ‘Pristine Mega Logistics Pvt Ltd’ and its network is managing ICDs in Ludhiana, Kanpur, Siliguri and Patna in India through its own 35 Container railways. The company has over 10 years for intensive experience in managing and handling ICDs in india and have entered the International market for the first time, according to a press note of the company. Nepali counterpart ‘Valley Terminals’ is a sister company of ‘Valley Group’, which works in the logistic sector, the press note reads, adding that Valley group – established 40 years ago – is a business conglomerate with diversified business including in poultry and related products, fast food, automobile, construction material manufacture, Information Technology (IT), and Infrastructure.

The directors of the Terminal Management Company, Pristine Valley Dryport Private Limited Rajnish Kumar and Baburaja Rawal mentioned that they want to use this venture to bring transformation and change in customer experience through efficiency upgradation and capacity building at the dryport. 

“The management transfer occurred during the pandemic of ‘Covid 19’ and the company will face piles of challenges with no definite date for this pandemic to end in upcoming days,” director of the Nepali counterpart company of the venture Madhav Baral said, adding that the port is only handling 35 per cent of its total capacity since the wide spread of Coronavirus, further down trend on export and import will continue. “The group will work on expansion of the port by attracting the road networked imports and export to the dry port and improving the existing in-country transportation services.”

The Management Team also mentioned that they are confident to implement Pristine’s experience and knowledge in Birgunj ICD to enhance the services and to expand the existing capacity of the port and that the venture will take a new height in the upcoming days.

Bilateral trade between India and Nepal to cross $10 billion in three years

The bilateral trade between Nepal and India is expected to cross $10 billion on the backdrop of increased sentiment for trade and investments between the two economies, according to PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI).
Currently, the bilateral trade between the two economies stands at $8.3 billion in the fiscal year 2018-19 with Nepal’s import from India at $7.8 billion and export only at $0.5 billion with a trade deficit of $7.3 billion.
In this backdrop, Nepal has sought India’s uninterrupted cooperation and complete trust to build a roadmap for a New Nepal just the way India is visualising a ‘New India’ through sound institutional arrangements in place, said Nepali ambassador to India Nilambar Acharya, addressing ‘Advantage Nepal Conclave: Ease of Doing Business in Nepal,’ under aegis of PHDCCI’s India-Nepal Centre (INC) in collaboration with Embassy of Nepal and Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) in New Delhi today.
Acharya also pointed out that the era of insurgency and instability at government’s level in Nepal is over and with a stable government in place, the country looks forward towards India to build a fresh new country which ensures an inclusive growth for each of its citizen. “The era of insurgency and instable governments in Nepal is a thing of past and with new government in place with its fresh constitution, the country is committed for its social and economic transformation with close cooperation from India and other neighbouring countries though Nepal attaches paramount importance to India, given its age old relations between India and Nepal,” said the ambassador.
Acharya, on the occasion, also emphasised on the trust factor which Nepal holds over India by stating that given intensity of Nepali traditional relationship with India, for its economic and social upliftment and that it expects an uninterrupted and complete cooperation of India to rebuilding the new Nepal.
He identified host of areas for possible joint ventures between Nepal and India Inc such as heritage tourism, power particularly hydro, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and the like including education and skill development.
Host of experts – present on the occasion – also emphasised the need to explore the trade and investment opportunities and extended an invitation to India to participate in the economic development of Nepal, with a pro-active approach to achieve the desired objectives and they further assured of providing a conducive and suitable social environment to overseas industries particularly the ones from India.
It was also emphasised that PHDCCI, which largely represents the MSME segment, should be assigned the task of drafting the MSME Policy for the economy of Nepal, so that small and micro organizations of the two countries come forward at a united platform to cement the cooperation in the desired direction.
The conclave witnessed immediate past president of PHDCCI Anil Khaitan, chairman of India-Nepal Centre under PHDCCI and former envoy of India to Nepal K V Rajan, vice president of CNI and chairman of India-Nepal Centre (Nepal chapter) under PHDCCI Nirvana Chaudhary, deputy chief of Mission at the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi Bharat Kumar Regmi, economic counselor at the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi Tirtha Poudel, former governor of Chhattisgarh and former deputy national security adviser Shekhar Dutt, and former ambassador to Nepal Ranjeet Rae among others.

Trade deficit hits at Rs 1.21 trillion

On soaring import bills, the trade deficit is going to equalise the annual budget in the current fiscal year as the trade deficit has widened by 17.40 per cent to Rs 1.21/9 trillion – surpassing the revised annual budget of Rs 1.2 trillion for the current fiscal year – in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year compared to the deficit of Rs 1.03 trillion in the same period of the last fiscal year. The trade deficit totalled Rs 1.16 trillion in the last fiscal year 2017-18.
A trade deficit is the difference between a country's export earnings and import expenses. According to the Department of Customs (DoC), Nepal’s foreign trade reached Rs 1.38 trillion – in the 11 months between mid-July and mid-June – which is an increase by 17.50 per cent compared to Rs 1.18 trillion in the same period of previous fiscal year. “The imports have a 93.7 per cent share in the total foreign trade whereas exports have only 6.3 per cent share,” the department data revealed, adding that Nepal imported goods worth Rs 1.29 trillion – some 17.45 per cent more than the imports in the 11 months of last fiscal year when it had imported Rs 1.10 trillion – whereas compared to imports, the ratio of exports is very low. “In the 11 months of the current fiscal year, Nepal’s export earnings swelled to Rs 87.83 billion as it is an increase by 18.18 per cent compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year.”
According to the department, Nepal exported merchandise worth Rs 74.32 billion in the 11 months of the last fiscal year. “The import-export ratio at the moment stands at 1:14.8, which means for every rupee of goods exported, Nepal imports goods worth Rs 14.8.”
The import-export ratio stood at 1:14.9 in the same period of last fiscal year, the department data revealed.
According to the customs statistics, Nepal enjoyed a trade surplus with only 21 countries among its 155 trading partners. However, among the 155 trading partners, the trade deficit is highest with southern and northern neighbours. Nepal faced a trade deficit worth Rs 785 billion with India in the first 11 months as it imported goods worth Rs 841 billion from India and exported only Rs 56.5 billion to the southern neighbour. Likewise, the trade deficit with China stands at Rs 184 billion as it imported goods worth Rs 186 billion from China and exported only Rs 1.96 billion worth goods to the northern neighbour in the 11 months of the current fiscal year.
Petroleum is the largest import of Nepal as usual. The country imported Rs 231.72 billion worth petro products including mineral oils, bitumen and mineral waxes. Likewise, the iron and steel import bill came to Rs 132.30 billion and Nepal paid Rs 109.87 billion on importing machinery and mechanical appliances, the department report revealed, adding that imports of vehicles and parts and electrical equipment stood at Rs 84.42 billion and Rs 81.71 billion, respectively. “Nepal imports cereals worth Rs 47.97 billion.”
Similarly, Nepal's largest exports were animal or vegetable fats and oils and related products worth Rs 10.99 billion. Export earnings from man-made fibres including acrylic yarn totalled Rs 9.03 billion, and revenues from the export of coffee, tea and spices amounted to Rs 7.61 billion. Exports of woolen carpets and flooring materials were worth Rs 7.05 billion whereas Nepal earned Rs 5.43 billion from the export of iron and steel.

Nepal proposes opening of 13 border points with China

To balance the South-tilted trade relations, Nepal has proposed China for opening nine more border points, beyond the four that they have agreed upon, making it to 13 border points with China.
During the meeting in Kathmandu today, Nepal pushed for opening of more border points, but the meeting ended inconclusively. The delegations from Nepal and China today discussed a proposal to open up 13 border points to ease the connectivity between the two countries, according to a senior Nepali official, who took part in the meeting. "The Nepali side proposed opening up nine more border points with China, beyond the four points the two sides have already inked an agreement for," he said, adding that the meeting could, however, not reach any agreement today.
The Chinese side said that it will make on-site visits to five new proposed bordering points, out of 13 proposed, though they did not mention the names of the proposed 5 bordering points, said joint-secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transportation, Saroj Pradhan, who led the Nepali team in the meeting.
Though the Chinese side had been positive on opening three border points in east Nepal, they have 'backtracked on it during the meeting, making it impossible to reach any agreement', according to the official.
Earlier, Nepal and China had agreed to open border points at Yari, Kerung, Olangchungola and Tatopani, the border that has been closed since the devastating earthquakes in 2015. . Nepal has also tabled a proposal on opening the border at nine more points, including Hilsa, Korola, Dolpa, Darchula, Taklakot, Olangchungola and Kimathanka.
The Road and Transportation Agreement reached between the two countries in 1994 allows the two neighbours to reach an understanding. The agreement facilitates opening up border points, movement of people and in some special cases, Nepal can use the Chinese highways for trade in certain parts that are not linked with road connectivity from the Nepali side.
Last month, China agreed to recognise the newly opened border trading route of Rasuwagadi-Kerung as an international checkpoint between Nepal and China. The Rasuwagadi-Kerung border crossing, which connects Nepal to China's autonomous region of Tibet, had begun operations in December 2014. It is the second largest border point for trade after Tatopani, and is recently declared international customs point between the two countries.
Earlier, Nepal had appealed China for immediate resumption of the Araniko Highway – the main trading point with China – during the visit of Chinese vice premier Wang Yang. He had agreed in principle to upgrade the trade highway. Beijing has, however, backtracked from the decision to open the key trade route that has been closed after the devastating earthquake of 2015. The Araniko Highway – leading to the Tatopani Border point – was hit badly in the devastating earthquake and subsequent landslides.
This March, China had handed over the Araniko Highway – that is of crucial importance to Nepal as it carries a large amount of goods from China – to Nepal after completing
repairs. The 114-km highway was repaired with Chinese grant assistance of Rs 760 million.
Earlier on Monday – during a meeting with China's ambassador to Nepal Yu Hong – minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Bir Bahadur Balayar had also proposed opening new 13 transit points along the border between Nepal and China as a part of Nepal's preparation to open additional transit points.
Kathmandu and Beijing have been stepping up efforts lately to improve road connectivity while speeding up plans to build a railway line connecting to Nepal's border. The then prime minister K P Sharma Oli had signed a Transit Trade Treaty with Beijing last year.

Nepal, China sign MoU on consumers’ rights, trade and commerce

Nepal and China today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the bilateral exchange of information on the areas of consumers’ rights protection, trade and commerce relations.
The MoU was signed by supplies minister Deepak Bohara and Minister of State Administration for Industry and Commerce of China Zhang Mao on behalf of their respective governments.
“The understanding is intended to initiating bilateral exchange of information on the areas of consumers’ rights protection, further stepping up of the implementation of existing rules and regulations in the areas, help create competitive market environment and more particularly, accentuate the trade relations between the two countries,” the ministry said in a press release.
The important areas of cooperation include, among others, the mutual exchange of information on newly effected rules and regulations, routinely hold consultations by officials on the matters of common concerns, information sharing on new practices of trade and commerce and periodic exchange visits by government officials, trade experts and consumer’s rights activists.
“The MoU would be a milestone in strengthening trade relations between the countries," said Bohara after signing the MoU. He further added that the Government of Nepal is consistently making efforts in protecting consumers ‘interests'.
Minister of the People’s Republic of China Zhang Mao, on the occasion, said that the MoU would reinforce traditional trade, and commerce relations between Nepal and China, and help protect interests of consumers of both the countries.
During the programme secretary of the Ministry of Supplies Prem Kumar Rai also opined that the MoU would be instrumental in underpinning trade and commerce relationship between the two friendly countries.

Nepal to ask India not to open Integrated Check Post yet

Nepal has started a diplomatic process to request India not to operationalise the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Raxual on the Indian side as it could increase Nepal's cost of trade, and ‘complicate’ trade between the two countries.
“We wrote a letter on Sunday requesting India to wait for completion of the ICP on the Nepal side,” according to Commerce Ministry officials. The Customs Department, Commerce Ministry and the Supplies Ministry have discussed the implications of operationalisation of the ICP on the Indian side and its impact on Nepal’s trade. “Even the Office of the Prime Minister has been looking into the issue,” the officials added.
The Raxual-Birgunj customs is the key customs point for Nepal, accounting for over 60 per cent of Nepal’s international trade.
The unilateral operation of Indian side of ICP that is aimed at providing all the services required for export-import trade, including customs, immigration, quarantine and banking, through an integrated one window on either side of the border has made the trade more difficult for the Nepali traders.
The operationalisation of the ICP on the Indian side, which is some 13 km from the current customs office, is going to hurt Nepal’s trade, according to traders. They also have expressed serious concern over India starting operations at its new ICP at Raxual.
Claiming that trading through the new ICP may hit trade through the Raxaul-Birgunj customs point until such time as the ICP on the Nepal side is completed, they said, requesting India to wait for the completion of the ICP at the Nepali side. The Indian authorities have, however, already inaugurated the ICP on their side on Friday.
Some 30 per cent work on the ICP on the Nepal side at Sirsiya is yet to be completed. India has taken responsibility for building the ICPs on both sides. The Land Port Authority of India is responsible for operating the Indian ICP.
Birgunj customs, which was blocked for almost five months during the Tarai-Madhes protests, has not only created supply shortages in the country but also encouraged the black economy due to lack of formal channel for bilateral trade.

Nepal-China transit treaty to shift geo-political balance

In a major geo-political shift, Nepal has signed a transit and transportation treaty with China today that will give the land-locked Nepal access to sea from China.
Currently, Nepal has the access to sea, which is vital for third country trade, only through India, the southern neighbour. India and Bangladesh are the only two other countries with whom Nepal has signed transit treaties. But the transit treaty with Bangladesh is based on India, as Nepal and Bangladesh do not share border, and thus has not been implemented fully.
However, today's treaty will give Nepal access to a Chinese port for its third country trade, which is expected to reduce Nepal's dependency on India for trade and transit.
Despite historic and socio-cultural integration between India and Nepal, India's imposition of economic blockade for almost five months generated widespread disenchantment in Nepal, forcing Nepal to seek trade alliances beyond the southern neighbour. Though Tianjin Port, the nearest Chinese port is 3,300 km away from the Nepal border – as against the closest Indian port of Kolkata which is only 1,000 km – the treaty is also expected to shift the geo-political power balance in the region.
The agreement on transit and transport with the People's Republic of China could be a psychological shift for the future, according to senior economist Bishwhambher Pyakuryal. "The agreement is going to have a huge psychological shift in otherwise India-locked Nepal as the country will now have an option for international trade," he said, adding that the implementation of treaty is but a herculean task.
Likewise, trade expert and former commerce secretary Purushottam Ojha also opines that the treaty is a milestone, but Nepal needs to invest its huge resources and efforts on road infrastructure to benefit from the treaty. "Nepal must increase road and railway connectivity to take advantage from the transit treaty and increase economic integration with China," he added.
Apart from widening of Rasuwagadi customs point, and upgrading Korala and Kimathanka customs points and access roads, Nepal also has to work hard to simplify trade-related issues, including visa, currency and language, to make the treaty work in its favour, Ojha said.
Likewise, Nepal has to exchange a protocol with China, which will define the procedures that need to be followed. Nepal also have to have railway connectivity to take advantage from the agreement, which will be automatically reviewed every 10 years, as ferrying goods via road through Tibet may not always be cost-effective and convenient.
The visiting prime minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang today witnessed the signing of the 10-point bilateral agreement and memorandum of understandings (MoU), including landmark transit and trade deal, in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, according to a press communiqué issued by the Nepali Embassy in Beijing after the signing ceremony.
To increase the connectivity, China has also agreed to construct a strategic railway link between the two countries through Tibet. The railway link, which is expected to link Kathmandu and Tibet, is also likely to be expanded to Pokhara and Lumbini.
According to officials in the meeting, Oli's visit has raised the possibility of the construction of two rail lines connecting three of Nepal's most important cities. China has already expanded its railway service to Shigatse, in Tibet, which is around 450 km from Kerung. Kerung lies at a distance of around 26 km from Rasuwagadi in Nepal. China plans to extend its railway service to Kerung by 2020, and also a longer term plan of extending railway lines from Kerung to Kathmandu depending on geographic and technical conditions, as well as financing, according to the officials.
But, Nepal will have to enter into a separate deal with Beijing to make use of the Chinese railway service for trade purpose.
The high profile visit also witnessed signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Commerce of Nepal for launching the Joint Feasibility Study of China-Nepal Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Based on the findings of the feasibility study, both the governments will decide whether to sign the FTA.
The FTA is, however, not going to benefit Nepali products, which have lost their competitive advantage against the Chinese products. "Nepal should have pushed for preferential trade agreement with China," Ojha said, "As Nepali products cannot compete with that of China's."
China has already given duty free access to over 8,000 Nepali products. Of the total trade, Nepal's exports to China stand at just 2 per cent, whereas Nepal's imports from China stand at 12 per cent, widening Nepal's trade deficit with China. "FTA will only further widen the trade gap," according to Ojha.
Trade between China and Nepal has been governed by Trade and Payment Agreement signed for the first time in 1974.
According to the press communiqué the two countries also signed agreement on concessional loan for a new airport in Nepal's Pokhara and a feasibility study for oil and gas survey projects, though the much-anticipated agreement on commercial import of petroleum products from China was cancelled at the last moment.
Likewise, China has also agreed to distribute solar panels in Nepal’s rural areas by tapping its Climate Fund, and build, manage and maintain Xiarwa Boundary River Bridge at Hilsa, Humla, apart from signing MoU to strengthen intellectual property system in both the countries, and extend cooperation and exchange information on banking regulation.

Government concerned over Indian blockade

Nepal has officially showed concern over 'India-imposed blockade' since last four days that has made the lives of Nepalis hard.
Foreign Ministry today – releasing a press note – said that the government is concerned over 'undue delay on the movement and clearance of cargo vehicles resulting in significant decrease in the flow of essential goods to Nepal from India via different border checkpoints for last few days.'
"It decreased flow has been noted particularly since September 23, whereas the security situation in Tarai has remained the same for more than a month and now has been improving gradually,” the ministry said in a statement.
Minister for Health and Population Khaga Raj Adhikari – who is officiating foreign
minister in an absence of foreign minister Mahendra Pandey – during his meeting with ambassador of India to Nepal at the Foreign Ministry in Singha Durbar yesterday, had informed about the fact and requested for necessary cooperation from Indian government for early release of cargo vehicles stuck at border checkpoints on the Indian side, according to the ministry.
A handful of vehicles – with perishable goods – were allowed to enter Nepal through Mechi and Dhangadhi check point. "Due to the blockade, Nepalis have begun to feel shortage of daily supplies on the eve of festive season,” the ministry said, further adding that as many as 29 cargo vehicles carrying perishable goods had managed to enter Nepal yesterday and the day before through Bhairahawa checkpoint.
The ministry also informed that 17 cargo vehicles, including three with petroleum products, through Mechi checkpoint and 25 cargo vehicles, including 20 with petroleum products, through Dhangadhi check point could enter Nepal, today.
"The situation of supply, however, has not improved ever since," it said, adding, "Not a single cargo vehicle could enter Nepal through Biratnagar, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Krishnanagar and Nepalgunj checkpoints until 5 pm today."
India has – showing its displeasure over promulgation of constitution through Constituent Assembly (CA) on September 20 – blocked cargo vehicles, including petroleum products, despite agreement to supply petroleum products to Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the sole supplier of petroleum products to Nepal. India sent a 7-point recommendation to add in the constitution, which Nepali leaders rejected. The Indian bureaucracy has taken the issue as its prestige issue and entered into ego-war with a tiny landlocked neighbour Nepal.
"Hundreds of vehicles carrying petroleum products and other essential goods are awaiting clearance to enter Nepal on the Indian side of the border,” the statement added, “Tankers have not been filled up with petroleum products."
Large number of vehicles have not been allowed to enter the Indian side and due to which people in Nepali side have begun to feel shortage of daily supplies on the eve of festive season, the statement further read. "Given the friendly relations existing between the two countries, Nepal sincerely hopes that the India will take all necessary steps at the earliest to ensure uninterrupted entry of vehicles carrying essential supplies, including petroleum products, to Nepal as before. It also reiterated that there would not be any problem inside the Nepali territory for the transport vehicles and their personnel since arrangements are already in place for their security.
Though not permitting transit right to a landlocked country like Nepal is a breach of freedom of transit rights of landlocked countries. If India continues to impose embargo on Nepal, Nepal can lodge complaints in the multilateral trade mechanism as it is the right of landlocked country. The transit and free supply of consumables is Nepal’s right and India should facilitate it without any hindrance, according to the multilateral and bilateral agreement.

Nepal, Mongolia plan business promotion

Nepali and Mongolian private sector representatives today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote business and investment at the non-government level.

Arliyanhath Shendiyan Import and Export Trading Company Ms Naratasetseg Bolorma and Naratsetseg Gaanbatar and representatives of Smriddhi Bio Engineering, Safa Chuarsi Byanjan, Energy Link and Everest Energy Cooperative Hem Bahadur Bista, Suraj Giri, Tek Prasad Chaulagain and Bikram Bista signed a MoU today on behalf of their respective institutions to strengthen the business and investment relations.
The representatives of Arliyanhath Shendiyan Import and Export Trading Company, the Ullanbator- based company is running a large super store in Ullanbator from July.

The super store will set up Nepal centre, according to the agreement.

India, Nepal formalises amendment of bilateral transit treaty

It will now be easier for Nepal to export third country import to another country through India as Nepal and India have formalised an amendment to a bilateral treaty to facilitate traffic in transit for goods of third country origin exported from Nepal.

The new amendment has removed restriction of movement of goods of non-Nepalis origin to transit through India for export to third countries. The amendment would also facilitate re-export of third country origin capital goods from Nepal to third countries for repair and return and also re-export of rejected goods from Nepal.

The change would facilitate Nepali business as it would allow re-export of goods imported from third countries into Nepal after some value addition in Nepal for which a legal provision was made in the Finance Act-2009.

The move would also facilitate movement of diplomatic cargo exported from Nepal and transiting through India.

In a statement today, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said the two neighbours have formalised an amendment to the 'Export Procedure' prescribed under the Memorandum to the Protocol to the Treaty of Transit between the two sides.

A Letter of Exchange formalising the decision has been finalised by both sides. The amendment in the provisions of the Treaty of Transit brings into effect a significant decision which was reached between the two sides during the Nepal-India Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) meeting on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to Control Unauthorised Trade held in Kathmandu during December 21-22 last year, the statement said.

The amendment was necessitated since, according to the earlier procedure, only goods of Nepali origin were allowed to be exported through India to third countries.

The provision would facilitate Nepal's genuine third country export which may be required for re-export of goods imported into Nepal for display in fairs and exhibitions.

There are two other important trade facilitation measures which were discussed by the two sides in the last IGC meeting to allow movement of imported vehicles on their own power from Kolkata port into Nepal and facilitating the import of bulk cargo into Nepal by operationalisation of multimodal transport link from Kolkata port through Jogbani-Biratnagar and Sunauli-Bhairahawa land routes.

Proposals for making the amendments in the Treaty of Transit had been finalised by the Indian government and shared through the Indian embassy in Kathmandu with the Nepal government.

The proposals are presently under consideration of the Nepal government. Once finalised, the measures would further facilitate Nepal's transit trade through India.

Nepal-China BIPPA, DTAA soon

Nepal is preparing to sign Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) and Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with China soon.

Addressing a seminar 'Nepal-China (Guangdong) Investment and Cooperation' organised jointly by Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) and China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Guangdong Sub-Council, here today, finance minister Shankar Prasad Koirala informed that the government is in the process of concluding BIPPA and DTAA to protect foreign investment from China.

Koirala, on the occasion, also invited Chinese investors to invest in priority sectors including hydropower, infrastructure, tourism, mining, construction, commercialisation of agriculture, and service sectors in Nepal.

The FNCCI and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Guangdong Sub-council also signed a memorandum of understanding today.

Vice president of the FNCCI Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar led the Nepali team in the seminar that was organised to promote investment, trade and tourism between Nepal and China, whereas vice secretary-general of Guangdong Provincial Government Liu Xiaojie led the 40-member Chinese business delegation.

Welcoming the Chinese delegation, on the occasion, Rajkarnikar hoped the new Constituent Assembly (CA) will complete the task of drafting a new Constitution that will help boost economic and business sector. He also urged the Chinese investors to invest in Nepal.

Likewise, lauding the peaceful conclusion of CA elections in Nepal on November 19, Chinese ambassador to Nepal Wu Chuntai said that the Nepali and Chinese private sectors are vibrant communities and embassy is always happy to facilitate to encourage the bilateral economic relations.

"There is a huge potential of business cooperation between Guangdong and Nepal in various areas," vice secretary general of Guangdong Provincial Government of China Liu Xiaojie said, expressing his readiness to discuss the feasibility of establishing a China Products Centre in Nepal.

On the occasion, coordinator of Investment Promotion Forum of FNCCI Chandra Prasad Dhakal gave a presentation on investment opportunities in Nepal. He also highlighted on the need for the establishment of Nepal-China joint venture bank.