Kathmandu. In the first two months of the current fiscal year, Nepalese have purchased 9.74 billion 36.6 million smart phones.

According to the Department of Customs, 4,25,040 smartphones were imported from 48 countries in Nepal till mid-August. The state received revenue of Rs 1.81 billion while mobile phones worth Rs 9.74 billion were imported.

Most of the smartphones in Nepal are imported from China. A total of 3,65,545 phones worth Rs 7,09,98,30,000 were imported from China.

According to the department, 57,441 units of phones worth Rs 2.41 billion were imported from India.

Nepal imports not only from China and India but also from countries like the US, Japan, Australia, UAE, UK, South Korea, Hong Kong, Canada, Qatar and other countries. Workers going to Middle Eastern countries bring phones when they return home. Such phones are for personal purposes rather than business.

In the last few years, the demand for smart phones has increased in Nepal. The trend of carrying smart phones has also increased due to foreign employment, youths going to study abroad, and the increase in digital transactions in recent times.