Handicraft exports swell 6 percent on greater publicity, strong dollar
KATHMANDU, SEP 17 -
The export of handicraft products surged by 6 percent in the last fiscal year, compared to the previous year. A significant increase in the export of pashmina products, metal crafts, glass and leather products have helped in increasing the export earnings from the sector, said the Federation of Handicrafts Associations of Nepal (FHAN).
The FHAN’s statistics show that Nepal exported handicrafts items worth Rs 4.36 billion in 2012-13, compared to Rs 4.11 billion in 2011-12. The export of handmade textile products increased by four percent to Rs 2 billion, while the export of non-textile handicrafts products increased by eight percent.
The FHAN’s president, Hem Ratna Shakya, attributed the publicity of handicrafts products to trade fair for the increase. The branding of ‘Chyangra’ Pashmina, a collective trademark, and the rising price of the US dollar helped improve export earning from the sector. “Encouraged by the good impact of Chyangra Pashmina, that has helped maintain the quality standard, we have planned on issuing similar trademarks for the entire handicrafts products of the country,” he added.
According to the FHAN, pashmina products occupied the third largest export earnings among the handicrafts , jumping 52 percent to Rs 558.35 million last year.
Shakya attributed the export growth to the increasing demand for metal crafts from China. “Increasing participation of the local traders in the China-based trade fair has also helped the publicity of the product in recent days.”
Metal crafts secured the largest share (22 percent) in the handicrafts export, inclining four percent to Rs 963.59 million. Wooden items in the textile sub-group that occupied a 14 percent share saw a drop of 15 percent to Rs 605.61 million in the last two years.
The FHAN’s records show that the export of beaded items escalated almost three fold to Rs 155.20 million. The US was the largest importer of Nepali bead products. The items exported to the country escalated almost five fold to Rs 133.70 million. Among the handicrafts , stone craft, silk products, Dhaka products, woolen goods, handmade paper products and silver jewelries all suffered a significant fall in exports last year.
With importing handicrafts worth Rs 1.27 billion, the US became the largest importing nation in the segment. Nepal exported handmade products worth Rs 1.20 billion in 2011-12 in the US. Germany and Japan were the second and the third largest buyers of the Nepali goods.
According to Shakya, with finding good prospects for handmade jewelries in some of the Eastern European countries, the federation has started work in the areas. “As per the traders, countries like Russia and Poland are the good potential markets for the Nepali products,” he added.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
