Export begins from Tatopani Customs after eight years

By Chitra Mijar,Sindhupalchowk, May 2: Exports to China have been opened after eight years from Tatopani Customs point, the major northern border between Nepal and China.

Chief District Officer Ramesh Neupane said that the border has been opened for import and export from both countries.

The cargo containers have started to come and go from both countries at the Tatopani Customs Office.

In the presence of the security agencies of China and Nepal, import-export has been opened from both countries.

CDO Neupane said that three containers carrying wood, jute, mattress and handicraft materials worth Rs 2.99 million were sent to China from Nepal-China friendship bridge today.

The three containers crossed the friendship bridge and reached Zhang Port, the market area where the parking lot is being rebuilt in Chinese territory.

Chinese officials have welcomed the exported goods from Nepal by organising a programme in the Khasa region.

Four years after the earthquake of April 25, 2015, the checkpoint was partially operational from May 29, 2019. Before the earthquake, 182 types of items such as handicrafts, plants, herbs and noodles were being exported from this port.

For the full operation of Tatopani Customs point, a meeting was held between the district administration office, immigration office, district security agency, Tatopani Customs Office from Nepal and officials and security officials of China on February 16 and March 20, 2023 in the border area.

In that meeting, there was a discussion on the issue of removing unwanted activities, criminal activities and other problems from the border crossing.

On March 29, the Nepal-China high-level mechanism meeting held in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China agreed to fully open the Tatopani border point.

At a meeting held on April 17, Nepal-China government officials had inked a 6-point agreement, including opening of exports.

On April 11, China had completely closed the border for a week saying that China would set up the weighing machine in the constructed physical infrastructure.

Dayananda KC, chief officer of Tatopani dry port customs office, said that 10 cargo containers were entering the border from Khasa daily till April 23, 2023.

Apples, garlic, wool, garments and other goods were being imported.

KC said that around Rs. 2.2 billion revenue was collected from the customs so far against the revenue target of Rs. 4.62 billion for the current fiscal year.

Before the earthquake, goods worth around Rs. 20 billion used to be imported and goods worth Rs. 2 billion exported through this customs point annually.

The government used to collect revenue of Rs. 5 billion annually.