December 28: Nepali exporters are facing problems in exporting goods to China due to the obstruction of Nepal-China border since a long time.

At present, the Tatopani customs is completely closed while only five containers enter Nepal every day from Rasuwagadhi customs.

The exporters have not been able to supply food and other readymade products to China as the border has remained obstructed almost since a year. However, Nepali exporters have been sending handicraft products to China via India at an exorbitant cost.

On one hand, the exporters are worried about the high cost of transportation while on the other hand more than  5000 workers involved in this sector have lost their jobs due to the border obstruction.

During last October, China had pointed out the issue of language problem in goods exported from Nepal. The Chinese government had suggested Nepali exporters to attach labels and stickers written in Chinese language. Nepali exporters say they have been facing problems to export goods from that time onward.

On top of that, the border obstruction caused by coronavirus has prevented Nepali exporters to supply goods to China while only a limited amount of goods are being imported from China, says Mukunda Poudel, general secretary of Nepal-Kerung Business Association.

China has even banned Nepali businessmen from entering its territory right now.

The businessmen say they have time and again requested the foreign ministry as well as the Chinese embassy to reopen the border but the concerned authorities have not shown much interest regarding the issue.

Nepali exporters complain that they have to pay three to four times more for the transportation charge in order to export goods to China and other countries via India. Some people involved in this business have opted for alternative business while many of them who do not have options are still troubled by the border obstruction.