Nepali Tea Exports Resume to India After Two-Month Halt

Kathmandu. Nepali tea exports to India, which had been largely stalled for the past two months due to various administrative and technical hurdles, have resumed. Trucks carrying Nepali tea have started departing for the Indian market via the Kakadvitta border crossing between Nepal and India. According to Mechi Customs Office, the long-standing stalemate ended on Tuesday when two trucks carrying tea from Ilam Tea and Summer Valley departed for India. This has brought new enthusiasm to Nepali tea producers, farmers, and businessmen who have been suffering significant financial losses for some time. Officials have stated that the path for tea exports has been cleared following diplomatic and commercial initiatives between the two countries. According to Mechi Customs Office, Kakadvitta, vehicles carrying tea have been crossing the border smoothly in recent times. Customs Officer Ishwar Kumar Humagain told RatoPati, 'Tea exports have resumed through the border crossing. There are no administrative or technical difficulties for export at present.' According to Humagain, a total of 5 trucks carrying tea have departed from Nepal to India in the last two days alone. Tea exports have started gaining momentum with two vehicles the previous day and two-three vehicles the following day. While the tea-laden vehicles are regularly crossing the border after completing customs procedures on the Nepali side, Nepal Customs does not have detailed information about the treatment they receive from the local administration or customs after crossing the Indian border. However, he stated that no unusual obstacles have been observed in exports through the border crossing.

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