Kathmandu, February 7

The government today unveiled its 'National Pashmina Sector Export Strategy 2022- 26' (NPSES 22-26), which is expected to augment the supply capacity of Nepal's private sector and connect its pashmina sector with regional and global markets to increase exports.

The launch of the strategy comes after several rounds of multi-stakeholder consultations by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS), in collaboration with Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC) and the Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA), as part of the EU-Nepal Trade and Investment Programme (TIP), a project funded by European Union with technical support from International Trade Centre (ITC).

The EU-funded project provided technical assistance in designing the strategy, focusing on quick-win economic and business opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises along the pashmina value chain. In 2021, Nepal exported pashmina shawls worth Rs 2.53 billion ($19.31 million), up by 18 per cent compared to 2020.

The strategy aims to define opportunities and address the sector's constraints through a detailed plan of action to help achieve national prosperity through increased, sustainable exports of chyangra pashmina from Nepal, with a goal of exports worth $75 million (68.7 million euros) by the end of 2026. The strategy also includes a coordination and implementation mechanism with clear roles and responsibilities for all concerned stakeholders.

In order to supplement the focus on pashmina export, a foundation stone for the planned Pashmina Fibre Processing Centre was laid in Harishiddi, Lalitpur today.

The centre is expected to establish linkages between chyangra farmers and traders for better market prospects in both the national and international fronts and set the ground for quality fibre production.

The EU-funded four-year TIP was launched in February 2020 and assists the government in achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction by increasing trade and participation in regional and global value chains.

Implemented by ITC, the project also provides assistance to sustainable and inclusive development of Nepal's coffee and pashmina value chains.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 8, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.