Saturday, August 5, 2023

Nepal’s untapped export potential 405B

Kathmandu, Aug. 1

A book on self-reliant economy and potential sectors of exports, launched the other day, concluded that Nepal had the potential of increasing the export by about Rs. 405 billion in the near future.

The book 'Aatmanirbhar Arthantatra and Niryat Sambhawanaka Kshetraharu', published by Confederation of Banks and Financial Institutions Nepal (CBFIN) and the Federation of Nepal Exporters Association (FNEA) based on research and analysis of the current situation of Nepali original products and international demand and supply situation, has maintained that Nepal can immediately utilise the export potential of Rs. 196 billion.

Likewise, Rs. 95 billion market exists in Nepal for import substitution while export could be increased by Rs. 114 billion if the destination market could be diversified.

Stating that Rs. 7036 billion market potential is untapped globally, the book suggested that Nepal could cover up to 5.75 per cent of it. The book has also analysed the potential for productivity growth and the contribution that can be made to the sustainable development of the economy and the creation of a self-sufficient economy through export promotion.

The authors of the book, Dr. Gopal Prasad Tiwari, Utatm Gautam and Krishna Raj Bajgain, have analysed the status and market potential of 10 exportable goods, and suggested the major policies should be adopted and strategies needed to be designed to promote the products and enhance export.

The exportable goods include allo, large cardamom, incense sticks, felt, ginger, herbs and herbals, hand-made paper, yarn-textile-garment, turmeric-coriander and handicrafts made of natural fibre.

The book presents a roadmap to address the challenges that each of the 10 products is facing in policy provisions, institutional set-up, production increase, promoting the interest of stakeholders, increase of competitive capacity, product diversification and market promotion.

Chief Secretary Dr. Baikunth Aryal, Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal, Secretary of Commerce Madhu Kumar Marasini, Member of National Planning Commission Dr. Ramesh Chandra Paudel, President of CBFIN, Pawan Golyan, Former President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Bhawani Rana and Vice President of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal jointly released the book.

Golyan said in the book launching programme that it is necessary to channelise the investment of the banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to safe and productive sectors.

"We have studied 10 years of data on 10 commodities based on domestic raw materials, including agriculture and forestry products, which have increasing demand in the domestic market and have great potential for export growth in the foreign market," he said.

Chief Secretary Dr. Aryal said that the book highlighted the objective situation of Nepali products and pointed out both challenges and opportunities for the private sector and the government of Nepal.

Stating that cooperation between the government and the private sector is necessary for building a self-sufficient economy, he mentioned that exports should be promoted by supporting the promotion and use of Nepali products.

He also said that if the country can emphasise on the production of export goods, there will be no problem of marketing, and the government will take the necessary facilitation and initiatives to improve the policy and practical difficulties seen for productivity growth and export promotion.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 2 August 2023.   

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