Over 12 containers carrying clothes for festive season stranded at Kyirong

September 24, 2020, 10:14:44 AM |

KATHMANDU: More than 12 containers carrying clothes are stranded at theKyirong border at present.

The garments had been ordered by the traders for the upcoming Dashain and Tihar festivals. The clothes have been stranded at the border for over six months as the Chinese government has till date not given the permission to reopen the border on the Chinese side for exports.

According to Kamal Agrawal, president of National Trade Association, more than 12 containers are stranded at the Kyirong border and around 200 borders are stranded at the Tatopani border. As the containers are still stranded at the border, not only are traders not being able to fulfill customer demand but they are also facing huge losses, he added.

“We had ordered the clothes targeting the festive and winter season but as the Chinese government has not yet allowed the reopening of the border for exports, our goods have been stranded there,” Agrawal said.

The association has also requested the government to talk to the Chinese government to reopen the borders. “However, the government seems indifferent towards our problems,” he said, “People are out in the market for festive shopping but we have been able to provide only the remaining goods from the previous stocks.”

According to Agrawal, clothes worth Rs 10 billion of 90 per cent of the traders across the country are currently stranded at the Chinese border. “Traders do not even know whether their goods are safe or not at the border,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has claimed that the ministry is having frequent discussions with the Chinese government to reopen the border to bring the stranded containers.

Fiscal Nepal |

Thursday September 24, 2020, 10:14:44 AM |