“We´ve sent the letter through the Ministry of Foreign, requesting the concerned Indian authority to lift the additional lock on Nepal-bound containers as it hampers timely delivery of third country imports,” Minister for Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) Vijay Kumar Yadav told Republica on Tuesday.[break]
Yadav said high-ranking officials of both countries are meeting soon to resolve the issue.
Nepal imports goods from third countries via Kolkata port, which, according to Nepali traders, is known for operational difficulties, corruption and procedural hassles.
Nepali officials have been arguing that the imposition of additional lock on the containers would be against trade facilitation as promised by bilateral transit treaty between the two countries. The spirit of the bilateral treaty is to lessen documentation and facilitate Nepal´s third-country trade through one-time lock system.
The new provision gives Indian customs officials the authority to unlock containers already sealed at Kolkata port at any time and place in India.
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