Metal, wood handicraft export takes off
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FEB 09 - The export of metal and wooden handicrafts to third countries surged by 203.9 percent during the first five months of the current fiscal year.
According to the microeconomic situation issued by Nepal Rasta Bank (NRB), Nepal exported metal and wooden handicraft products worth Rs. 473.5 million during the period.
During the same period in the last fiscal year, Nepal's export of such products amounted to Rs. 155.8 million.
Pushkar Man Shakya, immediate past president of the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal, said that exports had increased because of the removal of the export ban on metal craft to China and increased participation of Nepali handicraft producers in international trade fairs.
"Exports of Nepali metal and wooden craft are on an increasing trend," said Shakya. "Exports of wooden craft would increase more if we
were able to give wooden products Fumigation Certification which assures a long life for such products."
The U.S.A, Germany, France, the U.K., Australia and Japan are the top buyers of Nepali handicraft products.
Likewise, handmade paper and paper products also posted a healthy growth during the period with exports amounting to Rs. 382.9 million, which is a rise of 119.1 percent compared to Rs. 174.8 million in the previous year.
The export of Nepali pashmina products also registered a growth of 30.8 percent to Rs. 739.8 million. According to pashmina entrepreneurs, exports will increase further with the recent launching of the Chyangra pashmina logo.
However, during the first five months, the export of silverware and jewellery dropped by 31.1 percent to Rs. 93.8 million. Nepal exported such products worth Rs. 136.2 million during the same period in the last fiscal year.
Entrepreneurs said that the reason behind the fall in silverware exports was mixing of cadmium in silver products.
According to Shakya, FHAN has been urging the government to introduce a cadmium testing facility which costs around Rs. 10 million at the earliest.
"The government has also promised to issue 'cadmium free certification' for silver products, but it is taking a longer time than expected," he added.
In recent months, cadmium-mixed silver products have become a major concern for entrepreneurs as they are a health hazard and have affected demand in the domestic and international markets.
Posted on: 2010-02-09 10:11
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