Oct. 30, Kathmandu: Minister for Finance, Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Shankar Prasad Koirala has stressed the need of export-based production and trade  .There is a need of promoting more beneficial and competitive products for the development of the country’s economy, he said.

 Taking part in an interaction programme on Promotion of Nepali products in the international market jointly organised by Nestrade Project under the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies and IBN Media Research Pvt. Ltd. here today, he said handicraft products which have comparative advantage to others and its promotion is the priority of the government. The government is focused on the development of physical infrastructures for the promotion of export-based trade, the Finance Minister said and added that lack of sufficient resources is a challenge to export promotion and find a good market of Nepali products.

 Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies Madhav Prasad Regmi said trade is the backbone of the country’s economy. He emphasized on the production of quality goods of competitive goods meeting international standards and export them so as to reduce trade deficit suffered by the country.  Promotion of beneficial goods like honey, ginger and cardamom is the priority of the government, he added.  Non Resident Nepali Association General Secretary Kumar Panta said export of Nepali products to foreign countries and promoting investment is the focus of the Association.

            Chairman of the Nepal Handicrafts Federation Hemratna Shakya said Nepali handicraft items worth Rs.  5 billion is exported to other countries in a year and some one million people are engaged in this,   He called on the government and NRNA to pay special attention towards finding a space for Nepali handicrafts in the international markets. IBN Executive Director Hridayaraj Gautam said although the demand for Nepali handicrafts is increasing, a good market for them is yet to be established. RSS