Money
Proposed multiple-entry visa sparks disputes
The Chinese government’s proposal to issue multiple-entry temporary visas to traders from outside Rasuwa district too has got local entrepreneurs worried as they fear that their business will be affected.Prakash Adhikari
The Chinese government’s proposal to issue multiple-entry temporary visas to traders from outside Rasuwa district too has got local entrepreneurs worried as they fear that their business will be affected.
The northern neighbour presently provides such visas only to traders from the border district of Rasuwa. Although the news has pleased traders from outside Rasuwa, local truckers transporting goods between Nepal and China have split into two over future business quotas.
While transporters associated with the Gosaikunda Containers Entrepreneurs Committee have been demanding that the government provide quotas based on the number of vehicles, the other two associations, Maitri and Janamukhi, have been asking for an equal number of visas.
Government officials had conducted a field visit after Chinese authorities proposed granting multiple-entry visas to selected entrepreneurs from outside Rasuwa district.
Rasuwa Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Adhikari said the administration had asked the entrepreneurs to make recommendations regarding the multiple-entry visas. “However, we have failed to forward the names of possible entrepreneurs as they have been moving slowly,” Adhikari said.
Government officials too have not been able to bring an agreement among customs officials, border administration officials and the security forces besides transporters, cargo operators and traders.
Krishna Prasad Gyawali, under-secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, said they had not received the list of names even after two weeks.
Following the closure of the Tatopani border point after last year’s devastating earthquake, overland trade with China is being conducted only through the Rasuwagadhi-Kyirong route which was also badly damaged by the tremor.