Nepal Industry ask to Govt import Goods by Rail from Kolkata

Morang (Nepal): The industrialists of Sunsari Morang Industrial Corridor have asked the government to ensure supplies of goods from the third countries by railway.

At an interaction programme organised by Morang Industry Association and Nepal-India Regional Trade and Transport Project Coordination Office in Biratnagar on Monday, the business persons demanded the provision of bringing goods by railway upto Jobgani from Kolkata of India.

Chairman of Association Shiva Shankar Agrawal said that Nepalis small scale industries should also be given the facilities of small scale industrial unit (SSU) as enjoyed by the Indian ones in Nepal-India Trade Treaty, 1996.

Agrawal said that the Ministry of Commerce and Supply should take initiatives to make Nepalis embassies and consulate generals proactive for promotion of trade and commerce.

On the occasion, Joint Secretary of the Ministry, Shambhu Ghimire, pledged to take initiatives to resolve the issues raised by the business community at the secretary level between the two countries.

He said that Nepal-India Regional Trade and Transport Project Coordination Office was working to ensure unhindered exports and imports of goods and commodities.

Bangladesh ready to provide ports to Nepal for fuel import: Ambassador Shams

Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Nepal  Mashfee Binte Shams said on Monday that Bangladesh would provide transit facility if Nepal imported petroleum products from third countries.

Stating that Bangladesh was aware about the existing fuel crisis in Nepal, the Bangladeshi diplomat said her country was ready to provide Mangla and Chittagong ports as transit to Nepal for fuel and LPG imports.

According to her, Bangladesh has officially informed Nepal about the availability of the two ports and the latter has shown interest in bringing in aviation turbine fuel from Bangladesh.

Nepal is reeling under acute shortage of petroleum products and cooking gas among other daily essentials for over two month due to blockade at the Nepal-India border.

Saying Nepali cargo trucks can enter Bangladesh without any obstruction but Bangladeshi trucks are not easily allowed to come to Nepal, Ambassador Shams pointed out the need for an immediate motor vehicle agreement between the two countries.

She said Nepal can be benefited from the railway service extended up to Rohanpur, Singhabad and Radhikapur.

She further expressed her belief that the Nepali side would endorse Bangladesh’s proposal to export 208 items from Nepal to Bangladesh on zero tariff.