Kathmandu, August 4:

With a view to enhance services of air express companies in a coordinated manner, an International Air Express Association of Nepal (IAEAN) has been set up with representation of all major international courier companies in Nepal. Chandi Raj Dhakal, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Rajesh Kaji Shrestha, president Nepal Chamber of Commerce jointly launched the IAEAN yesterday.

Speaking on the occasion, Dhakal lauded the role played by the express companies in facilitating international trade by means of faster, reliable and on-time delivery of documents, parcels and shipments. He also urged that these companies should help in promoting exports and facilitating imports. NCC president Shrestha also expressed that express companies should give due priority to export-based industries. “The Nepali export sector is passing through a difficult phase, which needs support from all sectors,” he added.

He suggested that express companies should be aware of possible misuse of courier services by drug traffickers. For this, the government should work together with companies and take effective measures. R M Singh Pradhan, senior advisor of IAEAN pointed out the need that airlines, customs administration, security and civil aviation authorities should cooperate in facilitating express business in the country. “The fast, guaranteed, reliable and on demand movement of shipments will not be possible, if these units fail to function smoothly,” he said, adding that the customs role is more important for delivery of time-definite shipments. He underlined the need of enhancing services and infrastructure as per the changes and globalisation. Pradhan asked to review certain tax provisions for private and state-run express companies in order to ensure environment for healthy competition. Mukunda Malla, general secretary of IAEAN, said the express delivery services are increasingly important to ensure the continued competitiveness of companies.

Our services help to improve competitiveness of almost all aspects of companies, operations, sales, logistic ad storage, production and customer support functions,” he added. Malla also raised concerns over Postal Service Department functioning as a regulatory body for the express companies, since the department itself is also operating Express Mail Service. “One cannot play a dual role of operator as well as a regulator but rather have a regulatory body under the concerned ministry,” he said. Sita Ram Panta, president IAEAN, also expressed his views on the occasion.