February 17: With an increase in economic activities, Birgunj customs has improved revenue collection by 8 percent in the month of Magh (mid-January to mid-February) of the current fiscal year 2020/21.

In the review period, Birgunj customs has collected revenue of Rs 14.95 billion, informed Ramesh Sukmani, customs officer of Birgunj Customs Office. This is an increase of 8 percent compared to the revenue collection target of Rs 13.83 billion.

Birgunj customs has collected revenue of Rs 88.50 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year, which is less by 11 percent compared to the corresponding period of last fiscal year. Revenue collection was affected due to the lockdown and lack of economic activities in the first two months, informed custom official Sukmani. Business activities however have picked up pace in recent months.

In the seven months, foreign trade worth Rs 279.35 billion took place through Birgunj customs. This is an increase of six percent compared to the same period of last fiscal year. Last year, the volume of foreign trade from this customs point was worth Rs 298.5 billion throughout the year.

In the seven months of the current fiscal year, import has decreased by 7 percent while export has increased by 9 percent. As of mid-February, the country imported goods worth Rs 277.56 billion.  In the review period of the current fiscal year, the country exported goods worth Rs 22.38 billion from Birgunj. Export of Rs 20.48 billion was made in the same period of last year. The major export items include soybean oil, sunflower oil, juice, clothes, shoes, carpet among others while petroleum products, vehicles and industrial raw materials were major import products.