Kantipur Online
Kantipur Report
SUNSARI, April 13 – The export of handicrafts to third countries has been on an increasing trend with goods worth Rs. 100 million exported through the eastern border last year.
According to the Eastern Business and Export Promotion Centre, Italy, Germany, France, the United States and the United Kingdom are Nepal’s largest customers. Italy and France each bought Rs. 30 million worth of handicraft products during this fiscal year. Exports to the U.S. were worth Rs. 20 million, to the U.K. Rs. 12 million and to Germany Rs. 4.5 million.
Chairman of the Eastern Industrial Forum, Tanka Dulal, criticized the government for not motivating the handicraft industry even when demand was so high.
This year, the handcraft industry has been able to expand its market to the Netherlands, Brazil, Spain, Holland, Sweden, Switzerland and Portugal while it has a satisfactory market share in Australia, Denmark, Taiwan, Japan, Czech Republic and Norway.
Demand for Nepalese handicraft has declined in Japan, which used to be a big importer. Japan imported handicraft goods worth Rs. 3 million, down from Rs. 3.6 million last year.