Tatopani Transit Point Hell for Traders

Lack of proper management of Tatopani transit route has resulted in 70 per cent trade deficit with China. At an interaction programme organised by Nepal-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Sindhupalchowk Chamber of Commerce, stakeholders pointed out that repeated attempts made to make the government and business entrepreneurs aware of the present trade scenario at the transit point have been in vain.

Speaking during the programme, NCCCI president Rajesh Kaji Shrestha said, "It is difficult to ferry goods from the customs at Tatopani. If the transit route were easily accessible, there would have been more trade opportunities with China and India. We are urging the government to make the export from Tatopani transit point zero tariff so as to create more movement of goods through this point."

Traders from Tatopani too urged for valuation of Chinese goods imported through the transit point.

According to them, valuation of Chinese goods is quite difficult.

The valuation and billing of Chinese goods should be made according to WTO norms.

Informing about the present scenario of the Tatopani transit route, Sindhupalchowk Chamber of Commerce president Rajendra Kumar Shrestha said the Tatopani transit point suffers from a number of shortcomings. He said, "Currently, there are only 20-25 trucks and containers arriving at the point. Earlier, the number was more than 80. Export of Nepali goods has declined and the custom charges for flour, ghee and other exportable eats are quite high."

The export of Nepali Handicraft is declining per day. "Compared to other transit points, here the import volume is high but still the custom charges are very high,"

NCCCI president Shrestha said adding that the custom charge for cotton cloth at other transit points is five per cent while here the charge is 15 per cent.

He also spoke about the poor infrastructure of the Tatopani transit point. According to him, due to lack of sufficient manpower at the transit point there is no timely goods checking or investigation.

The parking yard is too small and the transit point also lacks enough budget for infrastructure development. The parking yard has space for 50-60 vehicles only, said Shrestha. "The Chinese government has assured of the construction of a dry port. Therefore, our own government too must move forward and show its concern,"

said Shrestha.