Handicraft exports witness wide expansion

15 Apr '09

2 min read

In 2008, export of handicrafts to other countries increased noticeably, when handicraft products worth Rs. 100 million were exported. According to the Eastern Business and Export Promotion Centre, countries like Italy, Germany, France as well as the United States and United Kingdom are the largest customers of Nepal.

During the previous financial year, handicraft product exports to Italy and France were worth Rs 30 million each. Whereas, exports to the U.S., U.K. and to Germany amounted to Rs. 20 million, Rs. 12 million and Rs. 4.5 million respectively. These figures reveal the high demand for Nepalese handicraft products. But the government is not taking any steps to motivate the handicraft industry.

In the current financial year, the handicraft industry in Nepal has successfully expanded its market to Netherlands, Brazil, Spain, Holland, Sweden, Switzerland and Portugal and has a satisfactory market share in Australia, Denmark, Taiwan, Japan, Czech Republic and Norway.

In Japan these handicraft products from Nepal are facing downturn. Japan used to be a big importer, but this year, it has imported handicraft products worth Rs. 3 million, which was Rs. 3.6 million from the same time last year.

While talking about the SAARC countries, Bhutan and Bangladesh are the topmost countries importing handicrafts from Nepal. During this fiscal year they have imported products around Rs. 10 million, each.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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