July 21: Foreign exporters have appealed to the Nepalese diplomatic missions abroad to facilitate the release of large quantity of dry fruits, peas, pepper, betel nuts and dates that are currently stopped in ports in Nepal and India.

The exporters have written letter to the Nepali Embassy in Canada requesting to facilitate the release of the goods after not receiving payment from Nepali importers.

Companies including Marina Commodities of Canada, Agrocrop International, Swiss Singapore Canada, PKT Associates have requested Bhrigu Dhungana, Nepal’s Ambassador to Canada, for supporting them to clear the goods from the ports and for the clearance of dues.   Nepali importers have been importing chick peas from these companies.

The payment for these goods have been stopped after the customs offices halted the inspection of the goods. The Department of Customs informed that it had stopped the inspection because the importers had imported the goods without the prior approval of the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control.

However, the importers complain that the payment of more than a dozen exporters have been withheld due to the delay in inspection by the government authorities.

The government had banned the import of chick peas, betel nuts, dates and pepper on April 30.

The Birgunj Dry Port has suspended the inspection of 500 containers for almost three months citing lack of prior approval from the Food Department. Importers suggest that additional 500 containers are stranded at the container freight station in Indian ports.