Trade facilitation guide for Pashmina export launched

KATHMANDU: A comprehensive guide for Pashmina export has been launched with the aim of assisting small-scale businesses in exporting Nepal’s Himalayan Chyangra Pashmina products to major international destinations.

The 'Trade Facilitation Guide to Export Pashmina from Nepal' was jointly unveiled by Myriam Ferran, Deputy Director General, Directorate-General for International Partnerships (INTPA) of the European Commission; Veronique Lorenzo, Ambassador of the European Union to Nepal; Baburam Adhikari, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies; and Dhan Prasad Lamichhane, President of the Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA) at a function organised at the Nepal Fiber Processing Facility in Lalitpur.

In addition, Joint Secretary Adhikari, DDG Ferran and Ambassador Lorenzo jointly inaugurated the Fiber Processing Facility, which was established with technical support from the EU-Nepal Trade and Investment Programme. The facility has been processing fiber collected from Chyangra farmers and supplying it to Pashmina producers.

As part of the European Union’s wider support in strengthening the Pashmina value chain, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) developed the guide with technical support from the EU-Nepal Trade and Investment Programme implemented by the International Trade Centre, as stated in a press release by the Embassy of the European Union in Kathmandu today.

This guide is specifically tailored for major international markets such as Japan, the EU, the USA, and the UK, to enhance Nepal's Pashmina export endeavours.

The guide provides a step-by-step process, covering firm registration, licensing, directives, customs, shipment, and logistics procedures. Moreover, it offers insights into the import requirements specified by destination countries, shedding light on tariffs, quality standards, shipping costs, timeframes, and the essential documents needed, along with other important trade information.

Amidst the lack of knowledge about international market and trade-related information among Nepal's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the newly unveiled guide is expected to serve as a valuable tool to assist entrepreneurs in navigating export-related formalities and procedures, as well as quality requirements, to enhance their competitiveness on the global stage.

Nepal’s Himalayan Chyangra Pashmina holds a distinguished position in the international market due to its unique quality and cultural significance. The ‘Nepal Trade Integration Strategy 2023’ has identified Chyangra Pashmina as a highly prioritised exportable product.

Similarly, the 'Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy 2022-2026' aims to elevate Pashmina exports to the $75 million mark by 2026.

Speaking on the occasion, Joint Secretary Adhikari said, “Nepal’s Himalayan Chyangra Pashmina holds a distinguished position in the international market due to its unique quality and cultural significance. The government of Nepal has designated Pashmina as one of the high-priority exportable products. The guide launched today is set to become a useful source of information about the process for Nepali Pashmina exports, offering comprehensive information about our destination markets.”

DDG Ferran stated, "As a longstanding partner in Nepal's development journey, the EU reaffirms its steadfast commitment to bolstering Nepal's prosperity through enhanced trade and investment avenues. This comprehensive guide serves as a tool to support the Pashmina value chain in harnessing the immense potential of Nepal’s Chyangra Pashmina in the international market."

Through a video message, Ashis Shah, Director of the Division of Country Programme of the International Trade Centre, said, "We are delighted to contribute to the development of this guide, recognising its importance as a vital resource, particularly beneficial for SMEs, in deepening their understanding of the export process and the quality standards required by destination countries." He expressed his confidence that this guide would prove instrumental for exporters, equipping them with the necessary tools to effectively navigate the dynamic landscape of international markets, thereby enhancing Nepal's competitiveness in Pashmina exports.

NPIA President Lamichhane expressed the association's gratitude to EU-Nepal TIP and the Government of Nepal for producing this guide tailored for Pashmina entrepreneurs. They are fully confident that this guide will play a pivotal role in advancing the export of Nepal’s Chyangra Pashmina to key international markets.

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