Nepalese Chamber of Commerce, Lhasa
The Nepalese Chamber of Commerce, Lhasa opened in 1943, the first ever organization of businesses formed by Nepalese traders based in the Tibetan capital.[1] The Newar merchants conducted trade between Lhasa and Kolkata transporting goods over the Himalaya by mule caravan.[2] The chamber of commerce worked to promote trade and coordinated among its members to set uniform prices for their merchandise besides lobbying with the government for business-friendly policy.
History
[edit]The first president of the chamber of commerce was Gyan Ratna Tuladhar and the secretary was Purna Kaji Tamrakar.[3]
The Nepalese Chamber of Commerce, Lhasa closed down after a year.[4] It was revived in 1947 with Triratna Man Tuladhar, of the business house of Chhusingsyar, as president.
Kathmandu office
[edit]An office of the Nepalese Chamber of Commerce, Lhasa was opened in Kathmandu in 1952. The chamber gave a reception to welcome Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai during his first visit to Nepal in 1957.[5] In 1960, during Premier Zhou Enlai's second visit, the chamber held a reception programme in his honor on April 26.[6]
The Nepalese Chamber of Commerce, Lhasa and its Kathmandu office shut down in the mid-1960s when the traditional trade came to an end after the trade route through Sikkim was closed by the Sino-Indian War.[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Tuladhar, Kamal Ratna (2011) Caravan to Lhasa: A Merchant of Kathmandu in Traditional Tibet. Kathmandu: Lijala & Tisa. ISBN 99946-58-91-3. Page 107.
- ^ Lewis, Todd T. "Buddhism, Himalayan Trade, and Newar Merchants". Retrieved 22 July 2011.
- ^ Tuladhar, Kamal Ratna (August 2009). "Pioneers on the Roof of the World". Matina. British Library ZK.9.b.25686. Page 5.
- ^ Hilker, Deb Shova Kansakar (2005) Syamukapu: The Lhasa Newars of Kalimpong and Kathmandu. Kathmandu: Vajra Publications. ISBN 978-99946-644-6-7. Page 138.
- ^ Tuladhar, Kamal Ratna (22 March 2009). "A man of letters". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ United States Consulate General (Hong Kong, China) (1960). "Nepalese Chamber of Commerce Reception for Chinese Premier". Survey of China Mainland Press, Issues 2248-2268. Page 47.
- ^ "Nathu La to open for Indo-China trade after 44 yrs". The Economic Times. 20 June 2006. Archived from the original on May 15, 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
Further reading
[edit]- Red China Hinders Nepal-Tibet Trade. The New York Times, 2 October 1960.
- Bhasin, A.S. (1970) "Speech of Mr. Chou En-lai at a reception hosted by the Nepalese Chamber of Commerce (Lhasa), Kathmandu, April 26, 1960 (Excerpts)" Documents on Nepal's relations with India and China, 1949-66. Page 263.
- Jain, Rajendra Kumar (ed.) (1981) "Premier B.P. Koirala's interview to Wilson, correspondent of Far Eastern Economic Review 26 May 1960 (Extract)" Volume 2 of China South Asian Relations, 1947-1980. Page 326.