EXPORTERS have expressed concern about the government’s inability to promote products identified by the Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS)-2010 as having comparative advantage in the international market. The lack of export-friendly policy has been the major reason behind the continual decline in Nepali exports, said Anup Bahadur Malla, chairperson of the Export Promotion Centre (EPC) at the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). He attributed the lack of competitiveness of Nepali products in international market to increased production and transportation costs. Exporters also complained the government failed to introduce any significant programme in the budget for this fiscal year to boost exports. Malla said exports of handmade papers, carpets and woollen products declined in the first 11 months the last fiscal year. “Exports of these products fell by 13 percent, 11.3 percent and 16 percent, respectively, over the period,” he said during a programme on “Public Private Dialogue (PPD) on Improving Export Performance of Carpet, Handmade Paper, Wool Products, Health Services, IT and Business Process Outsourcing” here on Friday. Buddhi Prashad Upadhya, National Manager of Nepal Enhanced Capacities for Trade and Development, blamed Nepal’s weak economic diplomacy and lack of trade infrastructure, including quality certification lab, for Nepal’s low export performance. Dileep K Adhikary, co-chairperson of EPC, stressed on the need for public-private dialogue on five products — carpets, woollen products, handmade papers, health services and IT and BPO — so as to gain positive results in the long run. FNCCI Vice President Pradeep Jung Pandey suggested every district should be identified with a product/ service to overcome the supply side constraints.
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