Leather Shoe and Goods Expo concludes

KATHMANDU, Jan 20: The 3rd National Leather Shoe and Goods Exhibition concluded in the capital on Sunday.

According to the organizers, the five-day event recorded transactions worth Rs 20 million.

Nepal Leather Shoe Manufacturer´s Association (NLSMA) organized the event to promote domestic footwear and leather products.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Ram Hari Tolang, president of NLSMA said Nepali footwear manufacturers have been failing to meet demand in the market. "We have been failing to meet the demand because of the shortage of skilled manpower," Tolang added. He pointed out dependency on raw materials and high tax rates as the two big problems for the footwear companies.

Tolang also accused footwear companies of comprising on quality by importing cheaper products and selling them here with ´Made in Nepal´ tag. "The government should discourage such activities and take necessary action at the earliest," he added.

There were 60 stalls in the expo showcasing domestic footwear and leather products.

According to the organizers, the expo drew a total of 80,000 visitors. More than 60,000 pair of shoes were sold during the five-day event.


(Source: REPUBLICA)