The 29th NEFFA Cargo Day brought together stakeholders from government and private sector in India and Nepal. It was a confluence of minds wherein the freight forwarding and exporter community put forward the challenges they faced in movement of goods and these concerns were well addressed by officials from Customs, NEFFA and Indian ports serving Nepal cargo movement.
Moderating the discussion was Rajan Sharma, Past President, NEFFA. Setting the day long deliberations into context he emphasised on the role of NEFFA as a trade facilitator. Nepal trade has been facing several constraints including high logistics cost and delays in relieving of cargo at Indian ports, shortage of rakes, to mention a few.
Chief Guest of the day, Mr. Madhu Kumar Marasaini, Secretary – Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Supplies, detailed on the government’s efforts to strengthen logistics ecosystem. He said, “A Trade Logistics Policy is being promulgated by the government. Very soon a master plan will be rolled out to implement the policy which focuses on digitisation and cost reduction. ICDs, ICPs and trade corridors (highways) of world class standards will be developed. The logistic sector must be developed as an industry. Studies are being conducted on making utmost use of Indian Inland waterways and Trade and transit treaty between Nepal and China.”
Special Guest of the day, Mr. Arjun Prasad Pokharel, Finance Secretary – Ministry of Finance detailed on the progress in infrastructure development which will help to enhance the logistics industry. He added, “The Ministry of Finance is ready to collaborate with the private sector to build infrastructures and formulate legislation related to the logistics industry. Government is positive to develop the logistics sector as an national industry. Government will be helpful to enhance the capacity of the logistics service providers as well as exporters.”
