Kathmandu, May 9: Carpet industrialists here underlined the need for major reforms in the carpet industry, one of the major foreign currency earners of the Kingdom, in order to promote Nepali carpets in the global market.
This was the key issue discussed when a group of carpet industrialists led by president of Central Carpet Industry Association (CCIA) Aji Sherpa recently met with president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, it is stated in an FNCCI press release today.
Aji Sherpa also said that the problems such as child labour, use of inferior azo-dye in wool, promotion of carpets in the international market, environmental degradation, and child care facilities for carpet labourers are the major problems carpet industry has been facing for a last few years.
These issues necessitate the major reforms to solve the existing problems, he demanded.
On the occasion, FNCCI president Shrestha said that Industrialist and the government need to go hand-in-hand to solve the problems besetting the carpet industry which plays a vital role in the country’s economy. Unless we are able to adopt new technologies in this industry, market promotion and expansion may not be possible, he observed.
“FNCCI recognises the need for expanding the carpet industry to the rural areas and has accorded a special priority to the development of the industry,” he said.
In a demand paper presented to the FNCCI chief Shrestha, the CCIA demanded that its representatives be included in the FNCCI’s business delegations.
Opining that the Trade Promotion Centre, New Zealand Wool Board, and Export Promotion Centre (Ministry of Commerce) should be urged to step up efforts to increase the export of carpet industry, Shrestha underscored the need for research works in making Nepalese carpets more competitive.
“This is the time we should go for formulating a special export policy for promotion of carpets,” he added.
On the same occasion, first vice-president Ravi Bhakta Shrestha said that pressure should be mounted on the government to consider the suggestions given by the private sector for bringing about improvement in the country’s economy.
FNCCI’s Employers’ Council chairman Rajendra Khetan said that the Nepalese consulate offices in the foreign countries should be made active for promoting the carpet industry.
Rohini Thapalia, Rajendra Prasad Shrestha, Purnaman Shakya, Krishna Prasad Maskey also expressed their view on the occasion.