Kathmandu, June 1: Commerce Minister Romi Gauchan has expressed his hope that Kodari Highway that has remained close since the 2015 ‘Gorkha’ earthquake, would reopen soon.
Speaking at a press meet here today, the Minister expressed this confidence, adding that the Chinese government was very positive towards resuming the Nepal-China Tatopani checkpoint. A concrete decision regarding the matter was expected very soon, he added.
The construction of a dry port there were going on in full swing and the construction of a wall was underway so at to prevent the port from the untoward damage of natural disasters.
He added that preparation of a detailed design of a dry port along the Rasuwagadhi Point was underway with the completion of the distribution of compensation for the land acquired to build the structure. ” The Ministry accords high priority to the Nepal-China trade growth and other activities to this regard.”
According to the Minister, a Memorandum of Understanding on the Rasuwagadhi Dry Port Project was already sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the matter would be finalised soon after holding further discussions with the Chinese side.
Sharing information about works executed by the Ministry in the past ten months including efforts made for trade facilitation and construction of trade infrastructure; development of a trade system based on information system; goods production and export promotion; research and development; bilateral, regional and multilateral trade promotion, the Commerce Minister said the goal of building of a prosperous nation was achievable if works were undertaken by modernizing government structure and mechanism.
Our bureaucracy and mechanism is capable enough by efficiency and experiences. It will be essential to make them become more capable in technology and stay away from union politics to ensure smooth service delivery,” he said. He also stressed the need for all to discharge their duties honestly dedicated to the people and country.
So far 453,275 commercial firms have entered online system while hybrid seeds have been distributed and technical help provided in eight districts including Surkhet, Lamjung and Dolakha, in the cost-sharing with private sector, for the improvement of ginger production and its quality.
Likewise, cardamom dryers have been distributed to farmers at various 70 places across the country while the process (including conducting survey and making design) of constructing international-standard exhibition ground at Chovar in Kathmandu has reached its final stage, he said.
A joint mechanism of Nepal and India has been formed to identify the location to construct a dry port at Dodhara Chandani in far-west Nepal, he informed.
