Sea trade to Nepal gathers pace from Visakhapatnam Port

• The Indian government is offering several business sops to Nepal and train transshipment is one among items 
• According to shipping agents, the trade will be increased rapidly in the coming five years
• Nepal exports various products particularly woolen and woolen products

Visakhapatnam: The sea trade business for Nepal is slowly increasing from Visakhapatnam Port Trust after declaring the Port as the second gateway to Nepal after the Kolkata port. 

With the Indian government strategic partnership with Nepal, the exports and imports from VPT have been gearing up with the transshipment through railways. 

As part of strengthening relations with Nepal, in view of future challenges with China, the Indian government is offering several business sops to Nepal and train transshipment is one the offers to the country.

The Nepal is exporting various products particularly woolen and woolen products to various nations in sealed containers and importing various products including electronic goods and pulses. 

The stakeholders including East Coast Railway, CONCOR, Customs, VCTPL and CII, and shipping companies are collectively promoting the Nepal exports and imports from the Port.
The Indian Railways is taking its share by connecting the route Visakhapatnam-Jogbani and Visakhapatnam-Birgunj, besides connecting some selected road ways. “The Nepal container cargo is being increased. 

The Visakhapatnam Container Terminal is handling 3,500 TEUs (each 1,500 exports and imports) per annum,” a senior VPT official said. The shipping agents are saying that the trade will be increased rapidly in the coming five years. 

The government and the ports have been developing several facilities reducing the handling time in the shipment and transshipment, the shipping agents added.

Meanwhile, customs authorities launched an Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) for goods exported to Nepal from VPT. 

This is the first of its kind facility started in Visakhapatnam. The GPS-based tracking system will cut down the transshipment time to two weeks from 2 months and save the money and time. 

With the system commenced, cargo pilferage by tampering has also to be prevented, the officials said.