A week ago, Makalu Agro and Trade sent 4,500 kg of Rudraksha to China via Kimathanka.
What you should know
Rudraksha grown in Bhojpur and Sankhuwasabha has been exported to China for the first time through the Kimathanka border crossing.
A week ago, Makalu Agro and Trade sent 4,500 kg of Rudraksha to China via Kimathanka.
Earlier, Rudraksha, which was being sent to China via Kathmandu or India, is now directly reaching Tibet and Beijing via the northern border of Kimathanka. Businessmen say that this has had a positive impact on time, cost and employment.
Transporting Rudraksha by ship used to be very expensive. Shipping from Kathmandu to China costs up to Rs 700 per kg, says Rajkumar Ghimire, the operator of Makalu Agro and Trade. 'Although shipping via India costs around Rs 150 per kg, there is a problem that it takes at least two months to transport,' he said.
However, using the Kimathanka border, transportation has become possible at around Rs 300 per kg. He also said that Rudraksha sent via Kimathanka reaches China very quickly in terms of time.
According to businessmen, about 150,000 kg of Rudraksha is exported from Nepal to China and 450,000 kg to India annually. In China, the demand for 5-faced Rudraksha is particularly high. According to Ghimire, Rudraksha reaches Beijing via Tibet. Sending it through the Kimathanka border crossing reduces time, reduces costs, and also creates employment opportunities for locals.
There is a provision to obtain an exemption certificate from the Division Forest Office when exporting Rudraksha. 5 percent has to be paid as provincial duty, while 2.5 percent of the value has to be paid to the Inland Revenue Office as revenue.
Similarly, the Kimathanka Customs Office collects 1 rupee per kilogram of revenue for export. It can be transported only after an import-export permit issued by the Department of Commerce and an EXIM code obtained from the Customs Department are mandatory. "The Kimathanka border crossing has also been found to be very effective in terms of transportation," he said. "Although it takes at least 11 hours to reach Sigachhe from Tatopani border crossing, from Kimathanka, one can reach the Tibetan check post Changa in just 4 hours."
If the Kimathanka border crossing becomes fully operational, agricultural and herbal products from not only Sankhuwasabha but also the entire eastern hilly district will have easy access to the Chinese market, he said. He claimed that this launch of Rudraksha exports has opened the door to new possibilities in Nepal-China trade.
