April 25: Nepal imported toothpicks worth Rs 19 million in the first nine months of the current fiscal year.

According to government data, the country imported toothpicks worth Rs 19 million from mid-July to mid-March of the current fiscal year.

According to the data of the Department of Customs, the country imported 60,427 kg of toothpicks during the review period.

During the corresponding period of last fiscal year, Nepal imported 27,996 kg of toothpicks worth Rs 9 million.

Compared to the same period of last year, the import of toothpicks has increased by 111 percent in terms of value and 115 percent in terms of volume this year.

In the same period last year, the government collected revenue of Rs 3.5 million from the import of toothpicks and this year it has collected Rs 7.7 million.

Nepal has been importing toothpicks from China and India. In the review period, Nepal has imported 60,376 kilograms of toothpicks worth Rs 19,660,000 from China. Similarly, it has imported 51 kg of toothpicks worth Rs 9,000 from India.