KATHMANDU: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has said Pashmina industry is the identity of Nepal.
Inaugurating the first three-day International-Level Pashmina Festival cum Exhibition organized by Nepal Pashmina Industries Association, Minister Bhandari argued that Pashmina, which has made its identity in international arena competing with countries like China and Mongolia, is the identity of Nepal.
“Nepali Pashmina has good market in different countries including in America and Japan as well as in Europe. There is a challenge to provide raw materials in order to strengthen additional market of the Nepali Pashmina. There is a need of policy-level improvement. The government is active for the same,” he mentioned.
Stressing the need of uplifting Nepal’s stagnant industry, Industry Minister Bhandari shared that the government has already forwarded activities for the reforms of laws, which remained hindrances for industry and commerce and export sector.
He added that the government has been making policy-level arrangement and a separate fund to encourage small and middle-scale entrepreneurs.
“The government is serious on how to increase Nepal’s trade and export. It is necessary to adopt a strategy of expansion of market of Nepali products to achieve economic growth as well as to launch a national campaign to promote the use of domestic products”, said the Minister.
Similarly, President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Chandra Dhakal, pointed out the need of collaboration between the government and private sector for the market of Nepali products at home and abroad, saying there is no any compromise in quality of Nepali products.
He expressed commitment that the FNCCI would provide necessary support and collaboration in promotion of Nepali products.
Likewise, EU Ambassador to Nepal, Veronique Lorenzo, President of Confederation of Nepalese Industries , Rajesh Agrawal, Executive Director of Trade and Export Promotion Centre, Sharad Bikram Rana, President of Nepal Pashmina Industries Association, Dhan Prasad Lamichhane, among others laid emphasis on the need of resolving problems seen in Pashmina export and trade expansion.
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