RASUWA, Feb 4: Import of Chinese apples has declined from the Rasuwagadhi border point in recent times. The decline has been attributed to the opening of the Tatopani border point which had been closed after the earthquake in 2015. The Tatopani border point resumed operation after four years in 2019.
After the earthquake, the Rasuwagadhi border point was the only border point in operation and all imports of Chinese goods occurred from the Rasuwagadhi border point. According to Punya Bikram Khadka, chief customs officer, the Tatopani border point has resumed operation and it has affected trade through the Rasuwagadhi border point to some extent.
China’s harm’s way
According to the Rasuwa Customs Office, apples worth Rs 900 million were imported in the first six months of the current fiscal year – FY2019/20. The customs office collected Rs 80 million in revenue from the import of Chinese apples. The collected amount is 1.21% of the total revenue of the Rasuwa Customs Office.
In the first six months of the current fiscal year 2019/20, the customs office has collected revenue worth Rs 7.33 billion. The import of Chinese apples is high during Mother's day, Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath festivals. 50 million kilograms of Chinese apples were imported in the fiscal year 2018/2019.
Apples are imported from China, India, Italy, Thailand and the United States.
Readymade clothes, apples, shoes, slippers, spectacles, spectacle frames, bags and file bags are imported from the Rasuwagadhi border point.
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