Life has started getting back to its normalcy after 10 months long pandemic regulations. But a large portion of bilateral trade between India and Nepal is still under deep stress. While organized exim is on, the informal trade across the open border is badly suffocating due to covid restrictive protocols.
” Export import consignments are crossing border as usual. But controls are being maintained by both the countries to keep ‘less important’ travels across the border to minimum,” said Shrikumar Bandopadhyay, IG SSB Siliguri Frontier that guards Indo-Nepal border.
But, “Proper Indo-Nepal border trade is impossible without free movement of people across the border,” said Narendra Prasad, General Secretary, of the traders association of Naxalbari. One of the biggest Indian trade centres at Indo-Nepal border.
Under Indo-Nepal friendship treaty 1951, citizens of both the countries do not need visa to cross border. Thousands cross the open border daily to work, buy or sell.
“This free movement has developed a high volume bilateral trade. Less formal and local in nature, this keeps thousands alive in border towns on both sides including Kakarvita, Dharan, Dhulabari, Bhadrapur in Nepal or Siliguri, Kishangunj, Mirik in Indian side. This is closed since last 10 months ” said G. S. Goyel, Siliguri Merchant’s Association Secretary.
Nepal enjoys priority in India’s external trade and commerce sector. With a free trade agreement in between, the two neighbours share an official yearly bilateral trade of over USD 7 billion which is highly tilted to India’s favour with 13 times higher export than the import from Nepal. India contributes over 65% to Nepal’s entire external trade.
Source : Economic Times
