Pashmina association targets new markets

Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA) is planning to register the ‘Chyangra Pashmina’ trademark in the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Central Asia and Africa by 2015. “This will be our Phase II plan which will commence only if we are successful in promoting the ‘Chyangra Pashmina’ brand under our Phase I plan,” said general secretary of NPIA Vijoy Dugar. Under the Phase I plan, NPIA is working to register the pashmina trademark in 47 countries and promote the trademark with assistance from the International Trade Centre (ITC). “The countries in the Phase I plan are those who are frequent buyers of Nepali pashmina products,” said Dugar. According to Dugar, the government had allotted Rs two million to register the trademark in the five remaining countries where the trademark has not been registered but the association has still not received the budget. “The present fiscal year is coming to an end but the Trade and Export Promotion Centre has not yet received the budget of Rs two million from the government,” Dugar said. Meanwhile, the association is also waiting for financial assistance from ITC to promote and brand pashmina products. However, the association has plans to start its Phase II plan, but it has said that it will start the Phase II plan only if the Phase I plan shows positive response. Nepali pashmina, till date, has been registered in 42 countries but due to budget constraints, the registration process in China, Brazil, UAE, Russia and Malaysia is still pending. According to NPIA, pashmina exporters are receiving satisfactory orders. The orders are mainly made in June, August and September for Christmas and winter season.