Letters (Spotlight Weekly)

Make It Clear

The cover story on the garment industry of the country "GARMENT QUOTA PHASE OUT: Clothed In Uncertainty (SPOTLIGHT December 31)" was very informative and provided an analysis of how the Nepalese garment industry, the largest foreign currency earner from the export, will suffer after the expiry of Multi Fiber Agreement. The reservations of quota are not appropriate for a member country of WTO. However, I read that there could be provisions for some duty free/quota free access if the Nepal Electricity Authority paid the money it owed to one of the companies of the US. It is not clear to me how it is possible, if it is mandatory for WTO member countries to compete freely in the global market and not rely on reservations.

Tirtha Bhattarai
Baneshwore

Pay The Money

The garment industry of the country will feel a hard blow when the quota for the garments is phased out in 2005 "GARMENT QUOTA PHASE OUT: Clothed In Uncertainty (SPOTLIGHT December 31)". Although, the quota would phase out gradually in the course of time, the US seems to have indicated that it would grant preferential access to Nepal if the Nepal Electricity Authority pays its due amount to an American Company. Looking at the contribution of the garment industry to Nepal's foreign currency reserve and employment it gives to a large number of unskilled and uneducated women, I think the government should have accepted the deal for its benefit. Without it, it is hard for the Nepalese garment to compete in the global market, as we know there is no large-scale production and the quality of Nepali textiles is not very good. It might not be as big a blow to the owners of the industries as it will be to the people employed in the textile industries. Naturally the entrepreneurs would shift their investment to other more lucrative businesses, but where will the unskilled and uneducated women currently employed in garment industries go if the garments cannot compete and the industries start closing.

Sita Bhujel
Babar Mahal

Just A Fear

It is not unusual for businessmen to panic when they are shifting from a privilege of guaranteed sale irrespective of the quality and price to a state to a situation where they have to compete in both price and quality to have their products sold "GARMENT QUOTA PHASE OUT: Clothed In Uncertainty (SPOTLIGHT December 31)". However, we should accept the reality and face the challenge. Nepal's entry to WTO and the expiry of the MFA is not a problem, but an opportunity for Nepalese businessmen to show that they can produce quality goods and compete in the global market. In fact, they are at a vantage point in that Nepal is one of the cheapest countries in the world. The labor cost is very cheap and other overhead costs are also very cheap in Nepal. It is only the raw materials that have to be brought from foreign countries that cost a little more. This should allow Nepalese businessmen to produce garments at a very cheap price. However, they will be selling it in the international market fetching prices of international standards. Therefore, I think they should make avail of the opportunity rather than panic at this point.

Krishna Shrestha
Teku

National Agenda

The issue of reconciliation is not just the agenda of Nepali Congress, but it should be the agenda of every sector of the country "NATIONAL RECONCILIATION: Everlasting Agenda (SPOTLIGHT December 31)". Not only the political parties every organization, ethnic communities and other official and unofficial groups should place reconciliation at the top of their priority list. As we all know, Nepal is a very small country, with small population and little resources, if we start showing differences even among ourselves we are bound to be very weak in the world. There is no rationale for showing such differences. I think we should all start this from ourselves.

Ekta Sharma
Balaju

Provide Relief

It is a good thing to know that child cancer can be treated in the country now "PEDIATRIC CANCER: Success Story (SPOTLIGHT December 31)". Cancer in adults has been a major cause of death worldwide including Nepal. However, in adults, mostly cancer is caused because of the individual's own lifestyle like smoking, drinking etc. On the contrary child cancer is not caused because of such external factors. They are not to be blamed for their disease. Moreover, they are just starting their life and have a long way to go. They have an entire life in which they can accomplish many things. So, the government should provide some relief for the treatment of cancer in children for parents who cannot afford to do so with their own means. The children treated with the support from the government will remember it life long and give much more in return to the country.

Kumar Bista
Sanepa