RASUWA, SEPTEMBER 15
Import of commercial goods from neighbouring China has resumed through the Rasuwagadi border. The transit point had remained shut since early August after the border crossing was shut down by the Chinese side citing COVID-19 precautionary measures.
Import of goods resumed from 9:00am today following a request for the same from the Nepali authorities which was met with a positive response from the visiting delegation led by China's People's Congress Standing Committee Chair Li Zhanshu. Goods were brought to Nepali territory in Rasuwagadhi in the morning in seven large Chinese containers. Seven more containers laden with imported commercial goods will reach Rasuwagadhi by this evening, said Chief District Officer of Rasuwa Nawaraj Jaisi.
Security personnel stationed in the border area between Nepal and China disinfected the vehicles and public places before the Chinese cargo container entered and left the Rasuwagadhi area through the Miteri bridge.
Dharam Paudel, a businessperson, said goods worth Rs 2.5 billion rupees imported from China targeting the upcoming Dashain festival remained stuck across the border. Though late, it is a welcome move. The Rasuwagadhi transit came into formal operation in 2015, with traders opting to resort to import export business through a shorter Kathmandu-Rasuwagadhi route. Prior to this, Tatopani was the only major transit for importing commercial goods from China to Nepal.
According to the Rasuwa Customs Office, Timure, the office had collected revenue worth Rs 7.13 billion in customs duty from the goods imported into the country in the last financial year.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 16, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
