Imports from Tibet surge

By Rishi Ram Poudel

KHASA, (Tibet), Oct 9 - The import from the Chinese Autonomous Region of Tibet to Nepal has gone up drastically over the past one month, due mainly to the approaching Dashain, the greatest Hindu festival.

Although Tatopani Customs Office has been collecting revenue of over Rs 10 million a day lately, surging imports has created problems to importers while getting customs clearance as containers carrying goods have to wait for at least two days.

The number of containers carrying goods to Nepal through the Tatopani Customs is rising as it is the shortest route to import Chinese goods to Nepal. Another reason behind the growing import currently is due to landslide in the Kodari Highway, that connects Nepal with Khasa, during the rainy season.

About 100 trucks/containers carry goods through this route daily but they do not meet the demand of traders nowadays. On one hand, lack of sufficient number of containers has compelled importers to pay more fare, while on the other limited officials in the customs office and parking space has created problems.

About 20 to 30 containers enter Nepal through this customs office every day while over 70 loaded trucks remain in a queue near the customs point anticipating to enter Nepal, said businessmen. Yet Chinese goods are not entering Nepal as expected especially during this time, they added.

In keeping with the problem, the customs office allow a certain number of motors to enter Khasa, Tibet yet about one and a half kilometers of the route has been used as parking lot for Nepal-bound containers.

A local trader says the problem of parking space and customs clearance has been created as retailers and wholesalers both have thronged the border town in Tibet to purchase goods at this time.

Durga Bahadur Shrestha, President of Nepal Trans-Himalayan Trade Association says, the number of containers carrying goods to Nepal through the route is increasing because of Dashain festival and landslide that halted the imports earlier.

"The major reason behind the surge in import through the route is being it the shortest road", he said. Most of the Chinese goods seen in the streets and shops are imported through the Tatopani Customs point, he added.

According to Nirmal Hari Adhikari, Customs Officer at the Tatopani Customs Office, motorcycles, micro buses, electric goods, ready-made garments, toys, velvet, decorative, fruits and vegetables are the chief items imported from Khasa to Nepal through this customs point.

Dashain fair begins

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 9 - A twelve-day Dashain fair, organised by The Event Mark, began at the capital’s Churchill Shopping Complex, Sundhara Tuesday.

The consumer fair, which is an annual event, has eighty stalls displaying goods ranging from food items, ready-made garments, decorative items and cosmetics, gifts packages, automobile, electronics and video games, among others.

Apart from the consumer goods, various entertaining programmes are slated to be held, including concert, fashion show, band competition, talent show and treasure hunt.

Organiser of the fare expect to draw at least 100,000 visitors in the twelve day fair.

Inaugurating the fair, Member of Parliament Dr Rup Jyoti said that the fair will help in the promotion of employment for all those involved in purchase and sale of commodities.

Despite the fact that many business fairs have been organized during the last ten years, technical limitations have constrained the quality of the fairs, Chandi Raj Dhakal, Third Vice President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) said.

Rajesh Kaji Shrestha, President of Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), outlined the need to enact a law towards the promotion of such fairs.

Kunwar wins free trip to Japan

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KATHMANDU, Oct 9 - Kehar Singh Kunwar of Bhairahawa won a free three-day and four-night round trip to Japan offered by Morang Auto Works, sole distributor of Yamaha in Nepal as a special Dashain-Tihar offer.

Kuwar, who purchased the Yamaha bike a couple of days ago, emerged as the first winner of "Yamaha Chadnuhos Japan Januhos (Ride Yamaha to go to Japan)" scheme launched by Morang Auto Works. The lottery was drawn today in the capital.

Kunwar was amongst the 230 buyers selected to qualify for the draw today. "Once every ten days, we draw lottery for the buyers of Yamaha," said Nabin Joshi, Media Director at the Thompson Nepal - a premier advertising company in Nepal.

"We have selected the first winner who purchased Yamaha from our distributors," said Bibek Bijukchhe, Deputy Marketing Manager of Morang Auto Works.

Morang Auto Works has also been offering a free wrist watch as a consolation prize for the purchase of each Yamaha. The offer is valid from September 25 to November 20.