Nepal, China Agree To Promote Nepali Export

 

Trade talks held between Nepali and Chinese officials on April 25 in Kathmandu ended with an informal agreement to promote the export of Nepali goods to which China has provided zero tariff entry. At the joint-secretary level talks, the Nepali side drew the attention of their Chinese counterparts to the problems faced by Nepali entrepreneurs at the Nepal-China border and the risks of lacking banking facilities at the Tatopani entry point. Jivraj Koirala, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, led the Nepali team while the 11-member Chinese delegation was led by Bianba, Director General of the Department of Commerce of China’s Tibet Autonomous Region. Nepal requested the Chinese officials to allow the transportation of goods into the Chinese border through trucks, instead of current arrangement of carrying loads to Khasa of Tibet by porters after crossing the Tatopani customs. 

China has provided zero-tariff entry to 7,787 Nepali goods but Nepal has been able to export only 366 products which mainly include handicraft items, pashmina, vegetable ghee and noodles. Also, the trade deficit with China has not come down. According to Koirala, Nepal requested the Chinese team to support the implementation of awareness campaigns on the exportable goods which enjoy zero-tariff entry into the northern neighbour. 

The Chinese team also invited Nepali businessmen and government officials to the forthcoming Nepal-China economic and trade fair to be held in the second largest city of Tibet, Shigatse.