CHINA EMERGING AS MAJOR BUYER OF HANDICRAFTS

NEPAL’S handicraft exports have received a boost with China emerging as a major market. Even though Europe and the US are still the biggest international markets for Nepali handicraft products, shipments to the northern neighbour have been increasing sharply over the past few years. According to the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN), China excluding Tibet was the 10th largest export destination for Nepali handicrafts as of the first nine months of fiscal 2012-13. Exports to China amounted to Rs 81.22 million in the last fiscal year. The US was the largest buyer with imports valued at Rs 918.4 million. Handicraft exports to China including Tibet amounted to Rs 220 million as of the first nine months of the last fiscal. As per the government’s list of top export destinations, the US is followed by Japan, Germany, Tibet, the UK, the Netherlands, France, Denmark and Canada. “China has turned into a big market for Nepali handicraft products in the past few years,” said Hem Ratna Shakya, president of FHAN. “We are trying to come up with new initiatives to further boost this trend.” In the fiscal year 2011-12, Nepal exported handicrafts worth Rs 64.4 million to China alone. “In the past fiscal year, handicraft exports amounted to Rs 4.11 billion. The figure is expected to increase this year, mainly due to the increment in the Chinese market,” he said. Meanwhile, Aman Munankarni, a handicraft exporter based in Bhaktapur, said that his company saw a 50 percent growth in exports to China last year. “The China market has been showing very good growth in the past few years. As an exporter, I am shifting my focus from other markets to China,” said Munankarni. Exports to the US and some countries in Europe too are performing well, he added. Handicraft products from Nepal like metal crafts, wood carvings and thankas, among others, are the most popular items in the Chinese market, according to Munankarni. The main reason behind the increment in shipments of handicrafts to China, according to traders, is their uniqueness. “Our handicraft products are manufactured completely by hand. This has made them look more fresh and unique compared to others,” he said. Chinese customers are purchasing something or the other as souvenirs. Likewise, frequent trade fairs and expos have played a crucial role in the promotion of Nepali handicrafts in China. “I participated in many expos last year. This year too, I will be participating in several expos,” said Munankarni who feels that such events have played a very important role in promoting Nepali handicraft products.