Kathmandu. Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari has claimed that the revenue collected from the import of betel nut would be Rs 25 billion. Speaking at the Development, Economic Affairs and Good Governance Committee under the National Assembly on Sunday, Minister Bhandari said the import was allowed by amending the law as a large amount of revenue is collected.
He also claimed that the revenue from betel nut coming in the form of raw material would be around Rs 25 billion.
He urged the committee to take a decision in accordance with the Supreme Court verdict and said he was confident that the committee would give necessary instructions regarding its inspection as it was allowed only for industrial purposes and not for commercial purposes.
“I have been present to present the works being done by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies to the committee, especially in the context of LDC graduation,” he said. On behalf of the private sector, universities and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Supplies, we plan to move forward by creating a structure. There is a problem of branding the products produced in Nepal. Now if we put the products produced in Nepal on the government’s portal, then it can be seen in the global market. We are also emphasizing on increasing electronic transactions. On the other hand, 9,000 items are still coming to the Nepali market today. We lack labs. It is being tested in the open market. ‘
“Therefore, the Department of Metrology and Quality has awarded NS to 41 items in the current year. Products produced by Nepalis. Now if we can keep state-of-the-art laboratories in the major customs, then imports can also be brought from a range. It will be tested. That test will measure the quality. We have given priority to that. In the context of taking it forward, we are trying to bring investment in the development of industrial infrastructure. Industrialists cannot buy land and run industries. The government holds 21 per cent stake in Salt Trading Corporation. The rest is in the private sector. What we see in the media today is untrue. We are providing subsidy for the transportation of salt, an essential commodity, through Salt Trading. There is no truth in what has come in it. The import of betel nut generates revenue of about Rs 25 billion. For this, industries are operating and exporting are also being done. There is a demand for raw materials. We will allow the law to be brought only for industrial purposes and not for commercial purposes,” he said.
Stating that the export of betel nut could not be done due to various legal hurdles, he clarified that dna test of betel nut was not possible and farmers have been facing problems for a long time.
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