| Nepal to import 45,000 tons of sugar |
| Date: 2010/8/23 Click: 1749 |
|
Two Nepali state-owned entities - - Salt Trading Corporation (STC) and National Trading Ltd (NTL) -- are making preparation to complete imports of 45,000 tons of sugar by the end of September.
According to Thursday's Republica daily, the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies a few months back had directed STC and NTL to import 32,500 tons and 12,500 tons of sugar respectively. However, they had failed to import sugar from Brazil due to rise in sugar prices in the international market.
Urmila Shrestha, general manager of STC, said they would now import 20,000 tons and 12,500 tons of sugar from India and Brazil respectively. "We have already received a consignment of 5,000 tons of sugar from India. We will receive the remaining 15,000 tons within the third week of September," Shrestha added.
Similarly, NTL is also importing 12,500 tons of sugar from Brazil.
The government has decided to lower customs duty for sugar to one percent from existing 15 percent so that the state-owned entities can distribute sugar at rates lower than that of private traders. |
