Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu said the government was committed to do the needful in facilitating international trade. Minister Badu said this at a programme organized here today by the Nepal Freight Forwarders Association – an organization of cargo entrepreneurs – on the occasion of 28th Cargo Day.
The minister lauded the role the cargo entrepreneurs played in ensuring smooth management of supplies in the difficult situation of pandemic. Due to COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war of late, logistic costs of the goods and delivery time have increased, he said, expressing confidence that the government would facilitate in addressing the issue.
Policy reforms related works are being carried out in facilitating international trade, he said, a draft of the logistic policy has reached to the Council of Ministers. The ministry is preparing to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on implementing some arrangements laid out in the ‘Vision 2030’ brought out by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Minister Badu further shared that the Gautam Buddha international Airport has come into operation in Bhairahawa and Pokhara Regional International Airport is ready for operation soon.
Construction of the Kathmandu-Nijgadh Expressway is also gaining pace, he said, adding the infrastructures would directly contribute to the expansion of logistic trade and international trade. Also on the occasion, FNCCI Chairperson Shekhar Golchha urged the ministry to reduce logistic costs since emergence of liquidity crunch after pandemic has created trouble in business and enterprises and the recent monetary policy has further increased interest rates.
Likewise, Chairperson of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Malla stressed the need of widening the scope of public-private partnership so as to promote business and industry. Association Chairperson Manoj Adhikari urged stakeholders to facilitate cargo trade and business.
