Kathmandu, January 25
Confederation of Nepalese Industry (CNI) has requested different customs rate during import of readymade goods and raw materials.
In an interaction held at its premises today ahead of the International Customs Day, which is observed on January 26, the Acting President of the CNI Rajesh Agarwal, said that the government's policy of at least 10 per cent difference in customs rate for intermediate and final goods should be implemented effectively.
Emphasising that the import of products on which the country is self-sufficient should be discouraged, Agrawal also urged increasing the number of items imported through the greenchannel.
Chairman of the Revenue Committee of CNI Rahul Agrawal requested for improvements in the Customs Reference Manual as it promotes under- and over-billing.
Calling attention to the fact that goods are being illegally imported without the details of the importer and the price of the goods, he also requested the concerned authorities to crackdown on such illegal activities.
The confederation has also asked the government agencies to use Nepali products to promote indigenous products.
The confederation has also requested for effective theft control measures, keeping customs offices open even during the public holidays, doing away with rechecking of cargo vehicles that have already gone through customs inspection, among others.
Revenue Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Ram Prasad Ghimire said that country must move from a trade-based economy to a production-based economy.
Stating that there is no alternative to increasing production to promote industrialisation, Ghimire said that the government will facilitate for that.
Similarly, he said that the government will work effectively to control theft and smuggling.
"The government is working to minimise illegal entry of goods into country where private sector's cooperation is imperative," he said.
"Necessary steps will be taken on the suggestion of the CNI to increase the number of goods imported through the green channel."
Meanwhile, Chakra Bahadur Budha, director general of Customs Department, said that the CNI's suggestion to keep the customs offices open on public holidays was a positive one. Informing that the public holidays have dented revenue collection, he said that discussions are being held to carry out full-fledged work at the customs offices even during the holidays.
CNI Vice-President Birendra Raj Pandey, industrialists Amit More, Lakshmi Prasad Subedi and others also put forth their suggestions for necessary reforms in customs during the interaction programme.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 26, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
