KATHMANDU: Nepal to seek facilitation of Indian customs office at its port six decades ago when it started trading with third countries. Time has changed now,” Ashok Temani, president to Road Transport and Transit Committee of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI). “India might have been concerned about its security and revenue back then. But these issues can be solved via the use of technology,” he said.
Similarly, the number of paperwork that needed to be completed by importers at Kolkata and Haldia ports has also reduced to half from 14 in previous years. “Customs formalities at Kolkata port will be reduced to a page worth of paperwork from the beginning of new fiscal year of India,” Binaya Kumar, president Kolkata Port Trust, told Republica.
The Bill of Lading (BoL) issued by the exporter now includes the destination of container as Inland Container Depot (ICD), Birgunj, in addition to the name of the importer in the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) document. This has made it possible to shift customs documentation process directly at the Birgunj ICD instead of Indian ports.
Earlier, containers coming to Nepal used to have Kolkata as the destination, making it mandatory for the Kolkata and Haldia ports to issue Customs Transit Declaration (CTD) before containers are shipped to Nepal.
