A Year On Exports
THAT the Nepalese economy is in shambles is known to all.
When there is a general crisis in the economy, it is not a surprise that the exports have
also dwindled by hefty margins. Nepal's exports were hit by various factors including the
security situation. For a number of years, Nepal's export earnings have been shrinking,
causing many in the business even to close shops. Many in the export business and those in
industries supporting exports have lamented at the lack of initiatives in trying to arrest
the slide in exports. Granted, the export business, being part of the overall economy,
would also be affected by the deteriorating economy engendered by the country's overall
situation. But such a negative trend precisely is all the greater person why special
attention should be paid to prop up the export business. For this, both the government and
the private sector must come together to find ways and means to inject some life into the
export business. In this connection, it is a good move on the part of the government to
declare the year 2003 as the Export Year. Marking the declaration, Prime Minister Lokendra
Bahadur Chand said in view of the deteriorating state of export trade over the past few
years, different schemes will be held to support the export trade including identification
of export goods, flow of business information and participation in the international
fairs. Other ministers like Finance Minister Dr. Badri Prasad Shrestha and the Minister
for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Mahesh Lal Pradhan, also hoped that exporters would
benefit from the year of the export by facing the present challenges of globalised trade
and liberalisation.
However, for exporters to really benefit from such a year,
the government must come out with special programmes, in consultation with the private
sector. Declaring a year as such will only yield the intended results, if the extra
efforts are invested in addressing the problems faced by the export business. It is the
duty of the government to extend incentives and other various ways of support to exporters
to tide over the present difficult times. The exporters and those engaged in industries
producing exportables must also, at the same time, explore new ways of promoting products
regionally and internationally. In sum, the year should not be confined to ritualistic
celebrations without tangible benefits harvested, when the stock-taking is done at the end
of the year.
Other Story
|
