BIRGUNJ, Aug 5: Traders of Birgunj on Thursday held a discussion with officials of Visakhapatnam port aka Vizag port on the prospect of bringing the port in operation for Nepal's third country trade.
Vizag port authorities are in Nepal to hold discussion with Nepali officials and traders for bringing the port into operation for Nepal's overseas trade. Vizag Terminal's General Manager Kalyan Chakrabarti and Marketing Manager Siddhartha Saraogi are in the team.
Nepal and India signed an agreement to bring the port into operation for Nepal's third-country trade during former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's India visit in February.
President of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pradeep Kedia, said that Vizag port could be the best alternative to Kolkata port. “We believe that the port can facilitate Nepal's third country trade,” he added.
Kedia urged the port officials to look for measures to reduce cost as the port is farther than the Kolkata port.
The distance between Birgunj and Kolkata port is 704 km. However, the distance between Birgunj and Vizag is nearly double.
However, import cost for bulk cargo will be cheaper as well as faster as the Vizag port can accommodate large ships that can carry up to 8,000 containers compared to Kolkata port which receives only medium-size vessels.
Talking to Republica, Chakrabarti said their main concern was to address issues raised by Nepali traders and bring the port into operation for Nepal's third-country trade. "We are here to listen to traders and government officials of Nepal,” he added.
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