Project to export semi-processed herbs from Nepal

KATHMANDU, Oct 10: Nepali firm Himalayan Bio Trade, French firm Nateva and GIZ have jointly launched ´Wild and Cultivated Herbs for Cosmetic Products Partnership Project´.

German Ambassador to Nepal Matthias Meyer and French Ambassador to Nepal Martine Bassereau jointly launched the project amid a ceremony in capital on Thursday.

The partners involved in the project will identify herbal and medicinal products, test and conduct market research for the products and train farmers for the commercial production of those products.

According to Victor Linden of GIZ, the project seeks to help boost the export of various medicinal and aromatic products in Europe where there is an increasing demand for raw materials and ingredients for the natural and organic personal care and cosmetics products.

“The partnership will help in scaling up the Nepali value chain for natural ingredients as well as deliver quality,” Linden said at the launch event.

According to a joint statement from the implementing partners, the partnership is active in four districts -- Humla, Surkhet, Chitwan and Dolkaha -- focusing on eight different products. The products are Ashwagandha, Turmeric, Rosehip, Sea-buckthorn, Edelweiss, Chiuri, Dhatelo and Apricot.

Likewise, German ambassador Meyer told Republica that the partnership will directly benefit small farmers. “The partnership highlights the importance of international business linkages and the related benefits for a socially balanced economic development. Small farmers can profit directly from this partnership,” Meyer said.

Similarly, French Ambassador Bassereau said that the partnership between various agencies for the export of the herbs was a ´perfect example of public private partnership´.

(Source: Republica)