The Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) has sought suggestions from different ministries for their inputs for the upcoming IGC - a secretary-level meeting. [break]
“We are again raising the issues that we raised during the recent visit of Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai to India. We, however, are holding discussion with stakeholders and line ministries before finalizing agenda for the meeting,” said a source at the MoCS.
Nepal is preparing to request India for additional facilities with respect to the use of Kakarvitta-Fulbari-Banglabanda route for trade with Bangladesh and for early enforcement of agreement to bring into operation the Vishakhapatnam port at the earliest without imposing any additional lock system.
Nepali officials are also requesting India to allow containers carrying Nepali goods up to the Banlgadeshi border without Indian security escorts. At present, Nepali containers have to offload goods near Banglabanda and containers from Bangladesh carry them to the designated destinations.
Also, the Nepali containers are not permitted along the Kakarvitta-Phulbari-Banglabanda route during public holidays and nighttime.
According to officials, Nepal will also seek Indian assistance to remove additional customs duty of four percent on export of 162 Nepali goods so as to increase competitive strength of Nepali goods in the Indian market.
The Nepali delegation will also request Indian officials to remove the recently enforced additional lock system on delivery of third country imports to Nepal via the Kolkata port. It will also seek Indian assistance for early operationalization of Rohanpur-Sighabad railway service, which is expected to be instrumental in boosting trade between Nepal and Bangladesh.
Accreditation of quality certification, simplification of quarantine operations and elimination of countervailing duty, which has been affecting Nepal´s export to India, will also feature in Nepal´s agenda for the meeting.
“We will hold extensive discussion on the agendas, which have not been resolved despite commitment from both the sides during earlier meetings,” the source added.
During the Inter-Governmental Sub-committee meeting held in the first week of March, Nepal had agreed to gradually remove Agriculture Reforms Fee (ARF) on Indian agro produces, and increase margin of preference for Indian products compared to third country goods. In response, India had agreed to provide liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage facility to Nepal at Haldiya port if Nepal chooses to import LPG from third countries.
´Opening petroleum imports to pvt sector not on cards´
At a time when pressure is mounting on the government to end import monopoly for petroleum products, Minister for Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) Lekhraj Bhatta said Tuesday the government was not in a mood of opening petroleum imports to private sector.
“Though some businessmen are showing interest, we don´t believe the private sector will be able to ensure smooth supplies of petroleum products in the absence of guidelines to regulate the sector,” Bhatta told media persons at his office. “We have no immediate plan of liberalizing the sector.”
Bhatta also informed that the ministry was making final preparation to introduce dual pricing on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). “Each household will get eight cylinders of LPG in a year at subsidized rate,” he added.
Minister Bhatta also said the ministry was preparing to distribute cards to poor households and students so that they could enjoy petroleum products at subsidized rates.
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