Strict customs check improves trade in Biratnagar

BIRATNAGAR, Oct 1: Locals, many of whom relied completely on Indian market for buying day-to-day commodities, have started purchasing goods from local market after the police tightened checking at the Biratnagar customs point. Nepal police began strict check at the customs point following the instruction from Ministry of Finance that requires customers to furnish declaration form in the case of purchase of goods worth above Rs 100.[break]



This has boosted the business of Biratnagar market by 50 percent, said Avinash Bohara, president of Morang Trade Association.  Previously, people passed the customs point unchecked even after purchasing goods worth thousands of rupees. But the instruction from MoF has changed the scenario completely.



The recently opened “Sasto Bazar” is transacting goods worth Rs 1 million on daily basis. Around 2,000 local customers visit “Sasto Bazar”. The proprietor of “Sasto Bazar”, Subash Acharya said that flow of customers visiting the store that sells food commodities was overwhelming.



Unlike in the past, the Jogbani market on the Indian side, however, has been quiet with very few customers. Bishal Kumar Singh, a shop owner in Jogbani, said that the number of Nepali customers dropped significantly after the new rule was put in place. There are around 300 big and small shops in Jogbani which, as per the traders, sold goods worth Rs 200 million daily. A majority of the customers were Nepalis.



According to Morang Trade Association, the transaction volume in Biratnagar has increased to around Rs 130 million per day after the strict enforcement of customs fees.



Jogbani was not only the favorite shopping destination for locals of Biratnagar but also to those from Itahari, Dharan, Inaruwa, Dhankuta and other areas.

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