Here are the some of the key updates in the wake of final round of elections:

Silence Period Underway

In the wake of legislative elections for electing House of Representatives and Provincial Assemblies, The Election Commission (EC) of Nepal announced the silence period during December 4-7, 2017.

Campaigning, poll surveys, airing of any material in favor or against any political party, among other election-related activities have been banned as part of the election code of conduct during the silence period.

However, publishing and distribution of voter education materials, information or any related message, among others by EC are out of restriction.

Borders Sealed for 72 hours

As part of security measures for Nepal general election 2017, the country’s local administration has closed public movement across 22 border points.

The Government of Nepal sealed borders for 72 hours starting from December 05, 2017.

While a large number of people were stranded at the Kakadbhitta border point, DSP Tanka Bhattarai of the Area Police Office, Kakadbhitta, says, “Those carrying Nepali citizenship and identity cards are only allowed to enter Nepal. The border is open for those traveling to India.”

“Besides the closure of our customs office, we’ve also stepped up security ahead of the polls,” says Binod Prakash Singh, Chief District Officer of Parsa.

Bhadrapur in Nepal’s eastern border with Bihar state and a 500-km long Indo-Nepal border connecting Uttar Pradesh are among those closed.

The closed borders will be reopened from the midnight of December 07, 2017.

Special Transportation for Voters

To ease the voting process, political parties have booked 80 percent public vehicles to transport voters from Kathmandu to their home districts, informed the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs.

The political parties have already made reservations in this regard, informed Dolanath Khanal, FNNTE President.

Condemning the parties’ move, “Taking voters to their home districts with an aim to influence their vote is gross violation of the election code of conduct,” says Navaraj Dhakal, EC Spokesperson.

Rise in Fuel Import Prices

Nepal’s fuel import bill during the October-November of 2017 has gone up 40 percent in the light of general elections thus impacting the election campaigning activities involving vehicular movement.

According to Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), the fuel import bill touched Rs 7.44 billion and Rs 8.30 billion in August and September, respectively, which increased to Rs 10.17 billion by October and further to Rs 13.18 billion in November.

The import bills of petrol, cooking gas, diesel and aviation fuel have gone up during the period.

While diesel import has increased from 100,447 kiloliters during August-September period to 141,054 kiloliters by mid October-November period, petrol imports saw a 20 percent rise in the last two months and stood at 42,000 kiloliters.

Human Rights Alerts

In the wake of recent blasts that targeted few political party members and poll contestants, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) urged the government to tighten poll security.

In this regard, NHRC has also deployed its special team to take stock of the victims affected in recent blasts.

Meanwhile, the renowned international human rights body Amnesty International (AI) also urged the Nepali Government to ensure safety and security of public and human rights.

“AI Nepal notes with concern the recent attacks targeting political leaders and campaigners with explosive devices that have resulted in numerous injuries and one death in Dang,” AI Nepal said in a statement.

Nirajan Thapaliya, Director of Amnesty International Nepal, said, “There should be an independent and effective investigation into incidents of violence, and the suspected perpetrators should be held accountable through fair trials.”

Special Observation Teams, Security High on Agenda

EC has allowed a total of 45,000 members to monitor the observe and monitor the final phase of election.

This includes 52 domestic observing institutions and four international observer groups.

Besides, the Nepal Election Observation Committee (NEOC) is deploying more than 2,000 observers to monitor the elections across 45 districts.

“Considering the ongoing explosions, we are focusing more on election security. We have a team of experts on security. We are not only paying attention to the election day but also to the days before and after the elections,” says Kapil Shrestha, Vice-Chairperson, NEOC.

Shrestha further informed that a special focus will also be laid on other issues such as booth captures and multiple voting that impact free and fair elections.

Election Observation Committee Nepal (EOCN) and Democracy Resource Centre (DRC) are among other government bodies that are tracking security situation, political environment, electoral process and voter awareness, among other aspects.

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In line with its traders’ response, Nepal is mulling to utilize the Vizag port as a transit for its imports from the third-world countries.

In this regard, the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has recently held discussions with Nepal Transit and Warehousing Co Ltd., the organization dealing as a customs agent for government cargoes.

For Nepali traders, the trade via Vizag is more predictable than that of the Kolkata Port owing to its riverine infrastructure that doesn’t allow any further expansion. Its capabilities have also been limited to just handle feeder vessels.

Inefficiency and limited capabilities of the Kolkata Port such as costs and infrastructure limitations are resulting in high detention and demurrage charges for Nepali traders while shipping liners due to delays in clearing containers on the port.

“Lack of transparency and involvement of middlemen in different layers result in high cost of trade from Kolkata, hence Nepali industries importing raw materials through Kolkata port are less competitive,” say the MoC officials.

Owing to these challenges, MoC Nepal feels Vizag port could be an advantage because of its transparent services, cost and time saving features and effective handling of shipping liners and mother vessels thus reducing the ocean freight costs.

Clearing the traders ‘confusion and doubts over usage of Vizag port, the Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Board informed, “Traders will not have to face hassles and incur unforeseen costs of trade and there will be predictability in delivery of cargo if they utilize Vizag port.”

“Traders should take up the next best option to minimize the time and cost of the country’s foreign trade, which will ultimately help tame inflation because inflation in import-based economies like Nepal is driven to a large extent by the supply side hassles,” say the government officials.

Chemical fertilizers, IT-related and aircraft equipment, arms and ammunition and machinery are some of the key imports now the government is keen on importing through Vizag port.

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In a move strengthening US-Nepal trade ties, the Government of United States has urged Nepal to make better utilization of the US trade facilitation program.

The US Ambassador to Nepal Aliana B Teplitz made a statement in this regard at a US-Nepal trade workshop held in Nepal, recently.

Nepal and US officials gathered for a workshop titled ‘Enhancing Nepal-US Trade by Utilizing Trade Preference Program’ jointly organized by Pavilion Group and the US Embassy in Nepal on October 10, 2017.

Addressing the gathering, Aliana said, “Clock is ticking for Nepali exporters and businesses to take advantage of the trade preference program offered by the US. The US-Nepal trade preference program creates an opportunity to expand the trade between the two countries. Nepali exporters and businesses have duty-free access only until 2025 to the US market for certain kinds of Nepali exports.”

She further stated that the special program under the Nepal Trade Preferences Act, which allows preferential treatment for certain exports from Nepal to the US, is a good opportunity for both the countries in strengthening economic ties.

In this regard, the US official said Nepal can increase its exports to US under the duty-free tariff facilitated by the trade preference program.

The program planned under the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) allows new duty-free tariff benefits for certain Nepali exports to the US, which includes carpets, headgear, bags, scarves, shawls, travel goods and leather.

Nepal’s Exports to US Can Be Doubled

Through this program, the US government intends to support the Nepali economy for its recovery from the 2015 earthquake. It has been effective from December 30, 2016 and is active until 2025.

Out of the total exports worth USD 89 million Nepal sent to the US in 2016, USD 6.75 million was exported under the duty-free tariff.

“The market potential for the products is obviously much greater. We hope that the USD 6.75 million can be doubled, if not tripled or quadrupled in the near future,” Aliana added.

In response, the Nepali Minister for Industry Sunil Bahadur Thapa said, “All these products can be manufactured and exported to the US and we can fully utilize the facility provided to us by the US if we come out of the comfort zone.”

Arjun Kumar Karki, Nepali Ambassador to the US said, “The private sector should make investment in the production of these items so that they can be exported to the US. If we would be able to do better, we can request the US Government for additional privilege.”

Made in Nepal Can Be of Special Advantage

On the occasion, Nepali exporters were also urged to try special ways to diversify and enhance their business as per the changing trends in foreign markets for full benefits.

“If more Nepali products are exported to the US, there would be high demand for these products, ‘Made in Nepal’ could be very powerful branding tool that you should take advantage of,” says Aliana.

Other experts, who had attended the workshop, opined that encouragement of production from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), R&D and boosting connectivity in the domestic market can help Nepal in generating long-term business across foreign markets.

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