Kathmandu. The government has given permission to Salt Trading Corporation and Food Arrangements and Trade Company Limited to import 25,000 tonnes of sugar targeting Dasain-Tihar. The cabinet meeting held on Thursday allowed both the institutes to import sugar at 1 percent customs duty. Currently, 15 percent customs duty is being levied on sugar.

Keeping in mind that the demand for sugar will increase during the festive season and the price may rise in the market, the government has given customs concessions on imports. Imported sugar will be distributed in the market during Dasain-Tihar. The government is preparing to control the market price by selling sugar at subsidized prices.

Currently, there is only about 1,400 tons of sugar in the warehouses of Salt Trading across the country. In order to ensure supply according to demand, the process of purchasing 15,000 tons of sugar from the domestic industry along with imports has been initiated.

Out of the sugar that will be purchased from the domestic industry, Salt Trading has prepared to purchase 12,000 tons and Food Management and Trading Company has prepared to purchase 3,000 tons. This sugar will also be sent to the market for Dasain-Tihar.