The hand-knotted carpet of Nepal is striving to survive in global market. The product, which once accounted for about 70 percent of world's overall carpet export, is now losing its hard established position in the global market.
Subsequent to introduction of the Indo-Nepal brand in 2000, Indian carpets have slowly taken over from Nepali carpets.
Till 2000, Nepali carpets met around 70 percent of the world's overall demand for carpets. However, pursuant to the introduction of Indo-Nepal brand, the demand for Nepali carpets begun to fall, as the Indo-Nepal brand offers similar features as those of Nepali carpets, but at a comparatively lesser price.
From 1993 to 2001, Nepal was the world's third most leading supplier of hand-knotted carpet. But, with a fall in demand and the Government's apathy to revive the industry, the Nepali carpet industry, which once used to be the biggest foreign exchange earner for the country, is now struggling for its existence.
The once flourishing NPR seven billion hand-knotted carpet industry is on the brink today due to dearth of skilled workers, high rate of interest ranging between 15 to 16 percent, inadequate market promotion and Government apathy.
Nepali carpet exporters say that they have several times tried to draw the Government's attention towards the drop in carpet exports and requested a change in the Government policies to aid the industry, but the Government did not pay heed to any of their requests.
As a result, the conditions have deteriorated to such an extent that the country's hand-knotted carpet industry has not got any new order for the ongoing season.
However, a rise has been recorded in overall exports of Nepali carpets during last fiscal which grew by 15.6 percent over 2009-10's exports. During 2009-10 the exports plummeted by 20.5 as compared to previous fiscal's exports.
The rise in exports figures last fiscal were a result of previously procured orders, but currently both production as well as exports of the commodity are falling, owing to a drop in demand.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
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