Nepal importers hail Electronic cargo tracking system

Visakhapatnam: Against the backdrop of ongoing transshipment of Nepal bound containers from Visakhapatnam port to Nepal, the Nepal Ambassador to India, Bharat Kumar Regmi and Tirtha Prakash Poudel, Counselor-Economic visited the Custom House in the city on Wednesday.

The delegates were briefed about the facilities provided by the Government of India for the movement of Nepal bound containers. India is allowing movement of goods for import to Nepal through Indian Ports without charging any duties. The facility was initiated in 2017 and a total of 10,788 containers carrying the goods valued at Rs 10,820 million were transshipped to Nepal.

On request of Nepal Government, the transshipment procedure was simplified and transshipment of goods is now being allowed under electronic cargo tracking system (ECTS) which enables paperless and seamless transshipment and real time tracking of containers. Under this procedure, Nepal Importers need not file any transit declaration to customs and transhipment is allowed on a single document.

Commissioner of Customs informed the Nepal Ambassador that ECTS facility is allowed up to Indian border only due to restriction by the Nepal government. He requested the Ambassador to extend the facility to the destination upto ICD, Birgunj to ensure the containers can be tracked up to destination which would enable the government to prevent the risks associated with diversion of cargo during the transshipment.

Bharat Kumar Regmi expressed happiness over simplified procedure by the Indian Government and faster clearance of Nepal bound containers. He stated that Nepal Importers are happy with ECTS procedure and the Nepal trade from the port of Visakhapatnam would increase in future as a result of seamless process.

Dr D K Srinivas, Commissioner of Customs, G Shiril Saroj, Additional Commissioner of Customs were present. Yelvender Yadav, GM CONCOR was present. Earlier, the delegates met Visakhapatnam Port Trust Chairman M T Krishna Babu. The Chairman briefed the Nepal delegation of the port infrastructure facilities and the cargo handling transshipment by containers to Nepal from VPT.