NADA EV EXPO 2022
KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 23
Finance Minister Janardhan Sharma has said that the government is studying the timeframe to restrict sales and import of new petrol and diesel vehicles by forming a committee under the leadership of revenue secretary.
Addressing the inaugural session of 'NADA EV Expo 2022' here today, Sharma lauded NADA for hosting the first ever EV expo in Nepal. Stating that Nepal's fossil-fuel dependency has been depleting the country's foreign exchange reserves, he emphasised that it is also affecting the environment.
"Last fiscal year, Nepal imported around Rs 300 billion worth of petroleum products, including Rs 168 billion worth of diesel and Rs 71 billion worth of petrol," he shared.
President of NADA Dhurva Bahadur Thapa said that considering the importance and necessity of electric vehicles in Nepal, NADA has organised the first-ever NADA EV Expo 2022.
Highlighting the growing popularity of electric vehicles, Thapa said that the use of EVs not only minimises environmental pollution, but also helps to make the country economically independent with domestic power consumption.
"I believe this expo will support the government's concept of 'Green Nepal' and also help in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals," Thapa said.
Meanwhile, he pointed out that the import restriction on automobiles has impacted the automobile industry, with 25 per cent of automobile traders switching their business and hundreds of employees losing their jobs.
Organised by NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal and managed by Global Exposition & Management Services, seven four-wheeler brands, one three-wheeler brand, 16 two-wheeler brands, three brands of tyres, two brands of batteries, nine companies of garage equipment, components and auto magazines, along with four financial institutions are participating in the event.
The venue also has a Traffic Information Desk set up by the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, where visitors can learn about road rules and safety.
According to the organisers, the event is expected to draw around 40,000 visitors over the four days. The NADA EV Expo 2022 will conclude on September 25.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 23, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
