The
government is positive on promoting the domestic products, according to a
minister.
"The
government employees should be the first target consumer of the domestic
products," said finance, trade, commerce and supplies minister Shankar
Prasad Koirala, inaugurating leather goods and footwear exhibition, here in the
Valley.
The
exhibition that started today with a slogan, 'Our arts, Our Crafts, Nepali
brand is the best,' will run for a week till January 20.
The increase
in domestic production will automatically ensure promotion and expansion of
market, he said, adding that the government is planning to open a sales counter
of small and medium industries' product at Maitidevi, an international
exhibition centre at Chobhar and a SAARC handicrafts and design centre at
Tripureshwor in Kathmandu. "The indigenous craft has to be transferred to the
youth for the technology transfer and protection." Committing to monitor
the market and penalise the traders that sell imported leather footwear in the
name of local brand, Koirala said that the regulatory authorities will be
empowered.
Nepal
imported Rs 2.52 billion worth leather goods in the last fiscal year and is
suffering trade deficit of Rs 790 million, informed acting commerce and
supplies secretary Toya Narayan Gyawali, on the occasion. "Leather
footwear is one of the exports as Nepal exported Rs 1.73 billion."
Likewise,
the private sector, on the occasion, suggested the government to implement the
policy of using domestic product. Though the government had brought a policy of
using domestic products, it has not been able to implement hurting the domestic
industries.
The traders, who are
selling imported shoes in the name of domestic products are criminals as they
have cheated the government revenue, people their employment and helping
de-industrialise the country, they said, asking the government to act tough on
them.
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