अमेरिकामा निर्यात बढाउन भन्सार रहित सुविधाको निरन्तरताः ढकाल (२०८१ /५ /२४)

नेपाल उद्योग वाणिज्य महासंघका अध्यक्ष चन्द्रप्रसाद ढकालले अमेरिकामा निर्यात कायम राखि आगामी दिनमा बढाउनका लागि भन्सार रहित सुविधाको निरन्तरता महत्वपूर्ण रहेको वताउनुभएको छ । 

महासंघ, तयारी पोशाक संघ, नेपाल अमेरिका चेम्बर अफ कमर्श, युएसएड र निर्यात महासंघले संयुक्त रुपमा आयोजना गरेको नेपाल अमेरिका व्यापार र लगानी अवसर र चुनौति बिषयक कार्यक्रम उहाँले उक्त धारणा राख्नु भएको हो । 

अमेरिकाले सन २०१६ मा भुकम्पपछि ७७ वटा वस्तुमा दिएको भन्सार रहित सुविधा आगामी बर्ष सकिन लागेको र आगामी साता आयोजना हुने व्यापार एवं लगानी सम्बन्धि सम्झौता (टिफा ) परिषदको वैठक महत्वपूर्ण रहेको उहाँको धारणा थियो । उक्त वैठकमा सुविधाको निरन्तरता र हाल निलम्बनमा रहेको जिएसपी सुविधाको निरन्तरतालाई प्राथमिकता दिइनुपर्ने अध्यक्ष ढकालको भनाइ थियो । 

यसैगरि नेपाल अतिकम बिकसित मुलुकबाट स्तरोन्नति भैरहेको समयमा भन्सार रहित सुविधाको निरन्तरताका लागि सरकार र निजी क्षेत्रले संयुक्त रुपमा काम गर्नुपर्नेमा अध्यक्ष ढकालको जोड थियो । 

कार्यक्रममा उद्योग वाणिज्य तथा आपूर्ति मन्त्रालयका सचिव कृष्ण रावतले निजी क्षेत्रको सुझाव अनुरुप अमेरिकासंग छलफल गरिने वताउनुभयो । 

प्रतिनिधिसभा सदस्य गणेश पराजुलीले अमेरिकामा सुविधाको निरन्तरताका लागि सदन र अन्य सम्बन्धित ठाउँमा पहल गर्ने वताउनुभयो । 

यस अवसरमा, महासंघका वरिष्ठ उपाध्यक्ष अञ्जन श्रेष्ठले अमेरिकामा निर्यात वृद्धि गर्न थप प्रयास गर्न आवश्यक भएको बताउनु भयो । नेपाल तयारी पोशाक संघका अध्यक्ष पशुपतिदेव पाण्डेले अहिले अमेरिकासंग पैरवी गर्ने उपयुक्त समय भएकाले सरकारले विशेष प्राथमिकता दिनुपर्ने वताउनुभयो ।  त्यस्तै, नेपाल–अमेरिका चेम्बर अफ कमर्स एण्ड इन्डस्ट्रीका अध्यक्ष किरण साखले निर्यात बढाउनुका साथ साथै व्यापारका लागि सहायता कार्यक्रममा पनि जोड दिनुपर्ने वताउनुभयो । निर्यात व्यवसायी महासंघ नेपालका अध्यक्ष शंकर पाण्डेले अमेरिका तर्फको निर्यातको मात्रा बढाउन आवश्यक भएकोमा जोड दिए । 

नेपाल र अमेरिकाबीच सन २०११ मा टिफा सम्झौता भएको थियो । यो सम्झौताको खाका भएको हुँदा द्धिपक्षीय लगानी र व्यापारका लागि सम्झौता गर्नका लागि यसले आधार तयार पार्ने अपेक्षा गरिएको थियो । तर हालसम्म कुनै उपलब्धि हुन सकेको छैन । 

हाल सुविधा गुम्ने अवस्था आएको हुँदा अमेरिकाको निर्यात घटन सक्नेमा सरोकारवालाहरुले चिन्ता व्यक्त गरेका छन । अमेरिका नेपालको दोस्रो ठूलो निर्यात गन्तव्य हो । 


Continuity of duty-free access crucial for increasing exports to the US: Dhakal

Chandra Prasad Dhakal, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, has stated that the continuity of duty-free access is essential for sustaining and increasing exports to the United States in the coming days.

Dhakal made this statement during a programme jointly organised by the FNCCI, Garment Association of Nepal, Nepal-US Chamber of Commerce, USAID, and the Federation of Export Entrepreneurs Nepal, which focused on the opportunities and challenges of Nepal-US trade and investment.

He noted that the duty-free access on 77 products granted by the US following the 2015 earthquake is set to expire next year, and the upcoming Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council meeting scheduled for next week is crucial. Dhakal emphasised the need to prioritise the continuity of this facility and the reinstated GSP facility at the meeting.

Furthermore, Dhakal stressed the importance of joint efforts by the government and the private sector to ensure the continuation of duty-free access at a time when Nepal is graduating from the least developed country status.

During the programme, Krishna Raut, Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, stated that the government would discuss the matter with the US based on the suggestions from the private sector.
Ganesh Parajuli, a member of the House of Representatives, assured that he would advocate for the continuation of facilities in the US at the parliamentary level and other relevant platforms.

On the occasion, Anjan Shrestha, Senior Vice President of the FNCCI, stated that more efforts are needed to increase exports to the US. Pashupatidev Pandey, President of Garment Association of Nepal, emphasised that the government should prioritise special efforts as this is the right time to lobby with the US. Similarly, Kiran Saakha, President of the Nepal-US Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that in addition to increasing exports, there is a need to focus on assistance programmes for trade. Shankar Pandey, President of the Federation of Export Entrepreneurs Nepal, emphasised the need to increase the volume of exports to the US.

A TIFA agreement was signed between Nepal and the US in 2011. As this agreement served as a framework, it was expected to lay the groundwork for bilateral investment and trade agreements. However, no significant progress has been made so far.

Stakeholders have expressed concerns that the potential loss of these facilities could lead to a decline in exports to the US. The US is Nepal's second-largest export destination.