September 23, 2020: Nepali entrepreneurs are likely to lose billions of rupees after the China government blocked the border checkpoints to Nepal citing the coronavirus pandemic.
Container vans loaded with 1.1 million auto disposable syringes used for BCG vaccination have been stuck on the Nepal-China border after China blocked Rasuwagadhi, Kerung and Tatopani checkpoints.
Three Nepal-China checkpoints had been blocked during the lockdown period after the coronavirus took a toll on Wuhan City of China in last December.
Only 20 container vans loaded with goods including health materials (PCR machines, VTM kits, PPEs, masks, sanitizers( had entered Nepal via Tatopani checkpoint after the border point was opened in agreement between the two countries.
Tatapani border point which resumed by the second week of June again remained shut due to the landslide since July 9.
The China government has decided not to open the border point saying that Tso Lake on the China side is likely to burst.
On the other hand Rasuwagadhi checkpoint has been closed since the last week of December, 2019.
It resumed after four months and remained shut again. According to Naresh Katuwal, chairman of Nepal National Entrepreneures Federation, the goods have been stuck at Kerung since the last 10 months.
“Our goods have been stuck at Kerung. They had arrived at Kerung in January. The China government decided to block Nepal-China checkpoints citing the coronavirus pandemic. We have not been able to bring our goods since the last 10 months,” said Katuwal.
Entrepreneurs have been putting all their efforsts to bring the goods but the government is not paying its attention to it, he added.
As many as 27 associations led by the Federation have urged the government to create environment conducive for them to bring the stranded goods.
It is a shame on the part of the government not to take any initiations to help bring the goods that have been stuck for months, said Katuwal.
“We drew the attention of the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce as well as the main opposition leader Sher Bhadur Deuba, but in vain,” said Katuwal.
He further said the businessmen had brought those goods taking loan from the banks and added that they are holding talks to hit the streets if no initiation was taken by the government.
Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies Baikuntha Aryal said the government is holding talks with the Chinese entrepreneurs in this regard but it is not certain when the border point will be opended. .
Nepali Embassy in China is also taking initiation to open the blocked checkpoint, according to Aryal.
Earlier, Prime Minister KP Oli-led government had signed a trade and transit treaty with China. Nepali entrepreneurs’ goods have been stuck in China for the last 10 months. The government is unable to bring these goods.
Source: khabarhub
