Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce & Industry NICCI organized a Round-Table Discussion and interacted with Dr. Shankar Prasad Sharma, Ambassador (designated) of Nepal to India. The participants briefed the envoy on the various issues being faced by Nepalese Private Sector while doing trade with India.
President of NICCI Mr. Sunil KC on behalf of all the NICCI members welcomed Dr. Sharma. Mr. KC appreciated the efforts made by Dr. Sharma during his previous tenure as an Ambassador to India and reminded him of number of issues, which still need to be addressed and taken care of. Hoping that Dr. Sharma would take care of those issues, Mr KC further highlighted that since India is the larger economy and most of Nepal’s trade is with India, the bilateral issues may arise and continuously need to be addressed is the sincere and proactive efforts.
On the occasion, NICCI members discussed on the existing issues on Nepal-India bilateral trade and transit like synchronization of Harmonized code at customs of both the countries, documents needs to be submitted at Indian port while goods are imported, Extra charges on container and shortage of containers, financial bothering due to the ECTS, additional ports to be made available, bring Indian Cargo Rail up to Biratngar as the coding has yet not been made available to make rail service operational up to Biratnagar, additional ICDs and ICPs to be developed and made operational, facilitation for the easy and smooth access of Nepal made goods to Indian market, establishment of quarantine check post and laboratories to be established at the border points, accreditation of Nepalese Laboratories for the certification of Agri goods to export from Nepal, re-export of industrial machinery goods for overhaul to India provisioning of bank guarantee or bond, review on the 30% value addition in manufacturing goods to export, consideration on the export done in Indian currency as done in convertible currency, Rules of Origin to be rectified, trade process are to be eased, Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) to be implemented.
NICCI President Mr. Sunil KC handed over the document prepared by NICCI comprosing the issues which needs to be taken care to Dr. Sharma.