ATA Carnet essential to boost trade

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, June 26: Though Nepal is striving to keep pace with international trade in line with the global trade practices, Nepalese traders, and concerned authorities in governmental offices are still ignorant about facilities being provided to them. Lack of information about the existing trade facilities has added more costs to their products in the international market, said trade experts.

If Nepal is to yeild more benefits from export import trade, it should not delay in introducing new system that helps facilitate Nepal's export trade, observed trade experts at a seminar on 'ATA Carnet System.'

Instead of making it more cost effective and transparent delay in adopting new practices would have negative impact in the international market, they noted while deliberating the issue at the workshop/seminar.

At the workshop experts and traders from in and outside the country strongly urged the government to adopt the new system like ATA (Admission of Temporary Admission) Carnet being practiced to facilitate trade.

It is a system that covers temporary import of goods for exhibition, samples of value and professional equipment. It is like passport of goods that has a validity of one year.

Businessmen at the workshop were of the view that modern methods of trade should be put into practive in order to expand trade.

While inaugurating the workshop jointly organised by FNCCI Income Source Promotion Committee and GTZ/SEQUA Chamber Support Programme in cooperation with Nepal Incentive and Convention Association, Minister of State for Industry, Commerce and Supply Narendra Bikram Nembabg affirmed that the need to promote country's economy by expediting trade and industry. For this the government would always be ready to facilitate trade by introducing new methods to facilitate trade and industry, he said. The new challenges come along with globalisation has to be tackled wisely. Since ATA System is a completely new, the government sector also lacks information in this regard, he said adding' Hence the private sector should be well aware of the possible impacts of the system after its implementation.

Nemwang said the seminar would identify possible factors of risk and benefits and help the government to come to conclusion on this subject.

Ms Lie Dei Song of ATA from Singapore said that ATA system helps facilitate trade, reduce cost and control administrative hassle.

President of the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Pradip Kumar Shrestha stressed the need to introduce the new system to keep pace with global trade. Nepal should not delay in introducing the system Shrestha said.

"The effective use of ATA Carnet requires good deal of cooperation and coordination between the government nd business entrepreneurs, the affiliated to International Bureau of Chamber of Commerce and ATA chain, Shrestha said.

Mr. Jim Tomako from GTZ spoke about the importance of ATA system.

Yogendra Shakya president of Nepal Incentive and Convection Association was of the view that ATA system would greatly help to promote quality tourism. He also expressed hope that the government would take the system very positively.

Bijaya Bahadur Shrestha, chief of the FNCCI Income Source Promotion Committee emphasised the need to introduce the new system. Around 100 people from different governmental and non governmental organisations were participating in the workshop.

It is learnt that ATA Carnet system has been in operation since 1963 and is the most important international custom document for temporary duty free admission of goods. The present model of ATA came into force in 1989. More than 55 countries including major trading powers across the glob are associated with the system. The ATA Carnet is a system that allows temporary import of goods without paying the customs duty.