Progress on tea exports to India, says Industry Minister Gauri Kumari

KATHMANDU: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Gauri Kumari said progress had been made in resolving problems affecting tea exports to India.

She told the House of Representatives during zero, emergency and special hours earlier that Nepal had held talks with relevant Indian ministries through the Nepali Embassy in New Delhi to help resume tea shipments. Officials were also working to enable exports to other countries routed through India.

The minister said discussions with the Tea Development Board had taken place on May 11 to address the issues and outline steps to resolve them. She added that about 80 to 90% of Nepal’s tea exports went to India and that the country produced 26.1 million kilograms of tea annually.

Separately, Minister Kumari said the Department of Customs had been given responsibility for enforcing the maximum retail price of consumer goods.

On industrial relocation, the minister said work was underway to move industries in the Lumbini area in line with a Supreme Court order. The court had directed government authorities to relocate industries located within 15 kilometres of Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

(With input from RSS)