Nepal to share ginger trading story

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE


KATHMANDU: Nepal has selected three products — ginger, chyangra pashmina and tea — to showcase under WTO/Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Trading Stories project.

“We are going to submit a proposal of ginger under Tier 2 project in a week,” project and policy analyst at the Nectrade Dhiraj Karki, said, adding that EIF has selected three products and one service for the Tier 2 project.

“Among the four projects, ginger is in a submission stage and it will start from March,” Karki said, adding that they are preparing the proposal of chyangra pashmina, which will be completed by February end. “Meanwhile we are in an initial stage of Tea.”

The proposed Tier 2 ginger project ‘Enhancing Sanitary and Phytosanitary Capacity of Nepalese Ginger Exports through public private partnership’ under consideration, focuses on developing the ginger value chain, identified as a high-potential sector for export, value addition, employment and income generation by the government and development partners.

“The main objective of the project is implementation of Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS) and publicise products and services of the country in the international level,” Karki said, “In April, a mission will go through the proposals and will do profiling of the country.”

The mission’s visit is scheduled both for Kathmandu and proposed project site in the eastern region of Nepal.

Another Tier 2 project under preparation ‘Pashmina Enhancement and Trade Support (PETS) project’, aims at responding to the trade related development priorities in the NTIS as well as to build sustainable local capacities and leverage additional resources from development partners pursuant to the goal.

The project will contribute to achieve improved and increased export performance at least by 20 per cent, National chyangra pashmina sourcing and supply chain strengthen.

Meanwhile, Tea project is being planned in participation with Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board, Trade and Export Promotion Centre, and Donor partners.

Nepal tea is identified as an area of comparative advantage that has potential for growth based on expansion of exports.

EIF Nepal/Nectrade will plan to start work on the detailed project proposal for tea with clear and defined aims.

Meanwhile, overall goal of Tier 1 project, National Implementation Unit, is to ultimately ensure faster growth of the country, alleviate poverty through creation of jobs and enhanced sustainability of trade and development efforts resulting in greater overall benefit of the country through enhanced global integration and trade development.