October 21: Nepal Chamber of Commerce is going to support industrialists to increase the export of ready-made garments by helping in the international marketing and branding. Rajendra Malla, president of the chamber, said they are preparing to cooperate with industrialists for promoting the market of Nepali ready-made garments through the international branch under the chamber.

During an interaction with the newly elected officials of Nepal Readymade Garment Industry Association at the chamber building in Jamal, President Malla said that export promotion is the only option to reduce the growing trade deficit.

“The chamber will help to increase the export of ready-made garments through Nepal’s embassies abroad and international branches of the chamber,” said Malla.

Recalling that in the 1990s, ready-made garments worth Rs 11 billion were exported annually from Nepal, Malla said that it is unfortunate that garments worth only Rs 7 billion are being exported at present.

Pashupati Dev Pandey, the newly elected president of Nepal Readymade Garment Industry Association, said that it is ironic that the clothes used for climbing Mount Everest cannot be produced within the country, even though Nepal is proud to be the country of Mount Everest. Pandey said that their target is to export  ready-made garments worth Rs 10 billion in the current fiscal year.