Kathmandu, May 10: Carpet industrialists have pointed out the need to take up various  reform measures to further boost the carpet industry and promote international demand.

According to them, the main reform measures needed are resolution of the problems of child labour, environmental impact and use of inferior wool which have cropped up in the past few years.

Other measures needed are international promotion and baby care and educational arrangements for the children of carpet workers.

These issues were raised by a delegation from the Central Carpet Industry Association led by its chairman Eji Sherpa which called on chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Pradeep Kumar Shrestha to discuss the problems confronting the industry and likely solutions.

On the occasion, fncci chairman Shrestha said both government and the industry itself should work to tackle the problems.

Carpet Industry Association chairman Sherpa presented the fncci chairman a set of demands worked out through extensive discussions within the association.

The demands include free availability of fncci publications and international carpet market information at the secretariat of the Carpet Industry Association, inclusion of representation from the association in trade delegations organised by the government and the fncci and help from the latter in this regard, and arrangements for day care and education.

Shrestha said the fncci would help with day care and  education  for the children of carpet workers as far as its resources permitted.

He also spoke of the need for the association to work with the Trade Promotion Center, the New Zealand Wool Board and the Commerce Ministry   to promote carpet exports and for carrying out market studies.

He further said the time had come to think in terms of a special export policy, adding that external cooperation could be forthcoming if the industry is to  go for a special production zone.

He   pointed out that day care centers have been set up in all three districts in the valley with the cooperation of gtz.