Kathmandu [Nepal], July 17 – Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah has pledged government support to expand exports of domestically manufactured footwear saying the administration will work with the private sector to strengthen local production, reduce import dependence and create jobs.
During a meeting with officials of the Footwear Manufacturers’ Association of Nepal (FMAN) at the office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Friday, Shah said the government was committed to promoting Nepali footwear in domestic and international markets.
He said the government would coordinate skills training and capacity building programmes to develop the country’s footwear industry while encouraging greater private sector participation in product promotion and marketing.
The prime minister also pledged to strengthen oversight of raw material imports based on industrial production capacity and improve recordkeeping systems to support the sector.
Representatives of the footwear industry urged the government to crack down on cross-border smuggling, bring untaxed domestic and imported products into the formal tax system require mandatory quality testing of imported footwear and curb the entry of substandard goods into the Nepali market.
The delegation said domestic manufacturers are capable of operating at full production capacity if the government provides supportive policies, protects the local market and adopts industry-friendly regulations.
The meeting was attended by FMAN President Suraj Banjade, outgoing president Rudra Neupane, General Secretary Nirmal Bhattarai, adviser Kalidas Gautam and footwear entrepreneur and House of Representatives member Vidushi Rana.
Nepal’s footwear industry has long sought stronger policy support to compete with imported products arguing that expanding domestic manufacturing could help generate employment, reduce import reliance and improve the country’s export performance.
