Effective policy implementation emphasized

By a Post Reporter

LALITPUR, Dec 28 - Participants of a one-day interaction on ‘Promotion of Woollen Carpet Export’ have underlined the need for the private sector and the government to make concerted efforts for the promotion of woollen carpets export.

Ananda Raj Mulmi, past president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) said that the main issue of export promotion today is whether to keep on sticking to the older exportable items or opt for new products. We should formulate policies to tap the international market potential and make our products more competent in order to survive in the age of competition, Mulmi suggested.

Stressing upon the need to make the implementation of policy more efficacious, he regrettd the withdrawal of economic councilors from some Nepalese diplomatic mission abroad. It will definitely weaken the already fragile export promotion activities of Nepal, he said.

He also suggested the entrepreneurs to give up the practice of creating organization in the interest of an individual and to eye the entire European markets for exporting woollen carpets rather than concentrating on Germany alone.

Rajendra Kumar Khetan, Fourth Vice-President of FNCCI said the protection of domestic industries is a must but the successive governments along with this majority one has been ignoring our plea. We are sandwiched between two industrial giants China and India and should the government does not protect us how can we compete with them, he asked.

We have two principal challenges before us at this juncture: first, we are in a rudimentary stage and second, we have to compete in the international market while the world is talking about global village and the operationalization of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

He also assured Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) of all supports the FNCCI could extend to it.

AG Sherpa, Chairman of Central Carpet Industries Association (CCIA) said in keeping with the changing international trade scenario, the government should think of allowing to open Letter of Credit (LC) in Euro.

Laying emphasis on enhancing export of the woollen carpets, he suggested introducing one window system. Compared to the tax levied on the carpet exported, which is roughly rupees six per square metre, he said the amount that CCIA receives is so meagre that it can’t do anything concrete to promote the export of woollen carpets.

Harihar Subedi, representative of GTZ, a German development agency, expressed the hope that LCCI and CCIA could formulate joint programmes to facilitate the export of woollen carpets.

In his inaugural speech, chief guest Minister for Commerce Ram Krishna Tamrakar, assuring the entrepreneurs of government’s full support for the export of woollen carpets said the government will make necessary changes in its export policy in tune with the changing context for the promotion of exportable products.

Naresh Lamichhane presented paper on International trade of carpets and comparative study of Nepal’s carpet export, Lila Mani Pokhrel on Provisions of WTO: Possibilities and challenges of Nepalese carpet export and Chandra Lal Joshi on His Majesty’s Government’s policies, acts and regulations on carpet industry and its export in the second session of the function.

The interaction was jointly organized by GTZ-PSPP/SEQUA/Chamber Support Programme.

NATO calls for damage repairment

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Dec 28- Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO), a national organization representing the major hoteliers and tour operators of the country has called on all the tourism entrepreneurs to cooperate the government, and work unitedly to repair the damages caused due to hijacking of the Indian Airlines aircraft IC-814 on the 24th of December and sad crash of a domestic airliner the other day, reads a press release issued by NATO today.

In a press release issued by its secretary general Basant Raj Mishra, the association has said that the events are surely eventful and bad omens for the future of the tourism industry of the country. However, the release adds, "the hijacking and crash are definitely not the regular phenomenon in the aviation history of the country, and such events can be prevented from the cooperation from all the concerned sectors in future." The association has also added that despite the best of the security neasures taken such accidents have happened in the developed and resourceful countries too, the release adds.

NATO has said that the hijacking of IC814 on Saturday and the accident of Kathmandu-Simra Twin Otter of Skyline Airlines on Sunday could portray a negative picture of Nepali Tourism sector, and is sadly being presented by international media as a regular phenomenon of the country. But, the association adds, "This is the first ever hijacking case from Nepal airport in more than thirty five years, and there had been no such cases in the modern time after the country opened its sky for the private operators," states the release further.

NATO has requested all the national and international media to conside the current hijacking as the most unfortunate and accidental event that has ever taken place from Tribhuvan International Airport, and adds that the airport is not vulnerable to hijacking.

The association of tourism entrepreneurs on its part has also urged the government to strengthen airline security and safety measures in the airport and implement more stringent monitoring policies on all the private and government airline operators.

Emperor’s Gold Mount opened

By a Post Reporter

KAVRE, Dec 28 - Emperor’s Gold Mount, a joint venture between Huhhot Xin Chao Art Company, China and Momento Apparels Pvt Ltd, Nepal, was inaugurated amid a function here today.

The Nepal-China joint venture was formally inaugurated by Jing Shuping, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC.

Chandi Raj Dhakal, Chairman of Momento Apparels Pvt Ltd, said the 100 percent export-oriented joint venture factory is being set up for the production and export of cashmere sweaters and other apparels made from cashmere.

He informed that the joint venture has a projected production target of 600,000 pieces of sweaters by the end of the second year of production. The first shipment is expected to take place in April 2000, he said.

"The project aims to ensure that boom in cashmere apparel business is not restricted to a short period," he said.

Zhang Xiaofeng, president of the Mingeng Group of Companies, hoped that the joint venture would enhance the existing trade relations between Nepal and China.

Commerce Minister Ram Krishna Tamrakar, talking to The Kathmandu Post, welcomed the joint ventures. He said, "Such joint ventures are important for the development of the economy."

Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) said the new company would help in value addition and in raising Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

The Huhhot Xin Chao Company, which ranks among the top fifty enterprises in Inner Mongolia, is a subsidiary of the Mingfeng Group of Companies.

The project is expected to be complete within the first month of the new millenium at an estimated cost of US$ 3 million. The factory is situated at Bhadrapur, Jhapa, which employs some 500 locals.