Potato imports from Bhutan to continue without import license

The import of potatoes from Bhutan into India will continue without an import license for another year, according to Bhutan Live, citing a statement from the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

A similar exception has been granted for the export of areca nuts. Previously, the Indian government granted a one-year import exemption for potatoes from Bhutan, which expired on June 30.

The new import notification on potatoes signed by the Director General of Foreign Trade states, “Import of potatoes from Bhutan is permitted freely, without any license, up to the 30th of June, 2024.”

Bhutan exports potatoes to India via Samtse, Phuentshogling, Gelephu, and Samdrup Jongkhar.

“So far, we have exported 183 metric tonnes of potatoes from our Samdrup Jongkhar auction yard which comes to about Nu 4.1 M. Accordingly, from the Phuentshogling auction yard, we have exported 290 metric tonnes which amounts to Nu 5.4 M,” Bhutan Live quoted Dorji Tashi, the CEO of Food Corporation of Bhutan, as saying.

Bhutan can also export 17,000 metric tonnes of fresh areca nut to India without matching the minimum import price, according to a separate notification from India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

The Food Corporation of Bhutan facilitates the export of these commodities, whereas private traders mostly facilitate areca nut export.

“Areca nut rarely comes to the FCB. Nevertheless, we have managed to export a little over 200 metric tonnes of areca nuts from our auction yard in Samtse,” Dorji Tashi added.

Areca nuts were previously only exported from Phuentshogling. According to the latest announcement, in addition to Phuentshogling, areca nut export would be permitted through Chamurchi, a neighboring border town in Samtse, according to Bhutan Live.