NCC to promote exports of readymade garments

KATHMANDU: Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) will support industrialists and entrepreneurs to increase the export of readymade garments. The chamber will help in the international marketing and branding of readymade garments produced in the country. NCC President Rajendra Malla said the international section of the chamber will cooperate with the industrialists and entrepreneurs for promoting homemade garments in the international market. Malla welcomed the newly appointed members of Garment Association Nepal at Chamber Bhawan and said the export promotion is the only way to minimise the increasing trade deficit. He said the readymade garments made in Nepal will be promoted through Nepali embassies and the international sections of NCC. He expressed his commitment to prioritising the garments made in Nepal in the international trade fair and expos to be organised by NCC. The NCC President recalled that during the 90s, Nepal used to export readymade garments worth Rs 11 billion and was among the top 10 exporters of garments in the world. However, now the country hardly exports garments worth Rs 7 billion, he added. NCC President Malla said the chamber will coordinate with various trade centres, stakeholders and concerned government offices to promote the export of Nepali garments. He opined that small and medium enterprises should be encouraged to produce readymade garments. Newly elected president of the Garments Association Nepal, Pashupati Dev Pandey, said we take pride in calling Nepal the land of Mount Everest. However, it is unfortunate to see that the clothes worn while climbing Everest are not made in Nepal. Pandey shared that the association has set a target of exporting readymade garments worth Rs 10 billion in the current fiscal year. Pandey also lamented that they were unable to deliver the message to the citizens about the quality of the domestic products. He, however, claimed that the quality of readymade garments produced in Nepal has met the standard, and this message needs to be spread around.