Kathmandu, January 17:

Government officials, traders and diplomats today stressed on the need of improving infrastructure at Tatopani-Zhangmu customs point to further strengthen Nepal-China bilateral trade and tourism.

They underscored that the areas including facilities at customs offices and procedures, roads and deployment of adequate government officials, among others are needed to be improved immediately to foster bilateral trade.

Speaking at an interaction organised by Nepal China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCCI), Rameshore Prasad Khanal, finance secretary (revenue) today said that adequate government staff would be deployed at Tatopani customs to facilitate trade. He admitted that some customs officials have been called back to the ministry to probe on allegations of under invoicing.

Due to lack of officials at the customs office, Nepal-China bilateral trade through Tatopani-Zhangmu customs point has come to a standstill for last couple of days. Though the Tatopani customs has vacancy for 60 positions, there are only 22 officials working at present. Out of 22, some of them have even been called back for a probe on revenue leakage.

As a result, more than 500 cargo trucks have been stranded at the border for last 10 days, according to NCCCI. Earlier, about 50 to 70 containers a day used to pass through the customs, which is the major land trading point between Nepal and China.

Rajesh Kaji Shrestha, president of NCCCI, said that besides infrastructure bottlenecks Nepal and China need to explore new avenues and exploit from other areas including tourism, investment and banking sector. “Nepal needs to push forward dry port project and reducing tariff to zero per cent for some identified products.”

Bai Dongming, economic counsellor at the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu, also stressed on the need for improving pathetic condition of infrastructure at Nepal side to boost bilateral trade. Stating his recent visit to Tatopani-Zhangmu border, Dongming said, “Long traffic jam due to bad road conditions, arbitrary closure of customs and inefficient inspection are problems.”

He said that the Chinese government has given a due priority to enhance bilateral trade, which is evident through increased investment in infrastructure facilities. Dongming informed that the construction of a new united-inspection building is underway and expected to complete by May. Broadening of 30-km road from Nielamu to Zhangmu and 8.7-km section from Zhangmu to Friendship Bridge will be completed by the end of this year.

“These new infrastructure facilities will greatly improve the freight and customs clearance,” he said, adding that the Chinese government is ready to support Nepal for a dry port project and improve the condition of freight and customs clearance.