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A comprehensive guide for exporting Pashmina has been launched to help small-scale businesses in Nepal export Himalayan Chyangra Pashmina to major international markets. 

The ‘Trade Facilitation Guide to Export Pashmina from Nepal’ was unveiled by Myriam Ferran, deputy director General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships, and Veronique Lorenzo, the European Union Ambassador to Nepal. Also present were Baburam Adhikari, joint secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and Dhan Prasad Lamichhane, president of the Nepal Pashmina Industries Association, at a function held at the Nepal Pashmina Fiber Processing Facility in Lalitpur.

Adhikari, Ferran, and Lorenzo also inaugurated the Fiber Processing Facility, established with technical support from the EU-Nepal Trade and Investment Program. This plant processes fiber from Chyangra farmers and supplies it to Pashmina producers.

The guide, developed with EU technical support and implemented by the International Trade Center, aims to strengthen the Pashmina value chain. It targets key markets such as Japan, the European Union, the US, and the UK, detailing processes for firm registration, licensing, customs, shipment, and logistics. It also covers import requirements, tariffs, quality standards, shipping costs, timeframes, and essential documents.

This guide addresses the knowledge gap in international markets and trade-related information among Nepal’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It is expected to help entrepreneurs navigate export formalities and quality requirements, enhancing their global competitiveness.

Nepal’s Himalayan Chyangra Pashmina is renowned internationally for its unique quality and cultural significance. The ‘Nepal Trade Integration Strategy 2023’ and the ‘Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy 2022-2026’ have identified it as a priority export, aiming to increase exports to $75m by 2026.

Adhikari highlighted the significance of Pashmina as a high-priority exportable product, stating that the guide offers comprehensive information for Nepali Pashmina exports.

“The guide launched today is poised to become a useful source of information about the process for Nepali Pashmina exports, offering comprehensive information about our destination markets,” he said.

Ferran reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to enhancing Nepal’s prosperity through trade and investment, describing the guide as a tool to support the Pashmina value chain.

“As a longstanding partner in Nepal’s development journey, the European Union reaffirms its unwavering dedication to bolstering Nepal’s prosperity through enhanced trade and investment avenues. This comprehensive guide serves as an instrument to support the Pashmina value chain to harness the immense potential of Nepal’s Chyangra Pashmian in the international market,” she said.

Ashis Shah, director of the Division of Country Program at the International Trade Center, emphasized the guide's importance for SMEs in understanding the export process and meeting quality standards. 

“We are pleased to contribute to the development of this guide, recognizing its significance as an essential resource, particularly beneficial for Small and Medium Enterprises, in deepening their understanding of the export process and the quality standards required by destination countries”.

Lamichhane expressed gratitude to the EU-Nepal Trade and Investment Program and the Nepal government for producing this essential resource for Pashmina entrepreneurs. He said the initiative will boost exports in key international markets.

The main opposition Nepali Congress has reiterated the demand of forming a parliamentary probe committee.

A meeting of the NC Parliamentary Party held this morning reiterated the same demand for the guarantee of security of savings of cooperative depositors, to return the savings of depositors and to take action against those involved in embezzlement of the cooperative funds.  

The meeting held under the chairmanship of NC President and Parliamentary Party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba reiterated the demand of forming the parliamentary probe committee as other political parties in the federal Parliament also raised the same demand, NC Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said.

Stating that the fact for the formation of a parliamentary probe committee is being established, Lekhak shared that the NC PP meeting again demanded formation of a parliamentary probe committee. 

"In parliamentary history and tradition, it is considered that the meeting is obstructed if opposition party lawmakers stand up from their seats in protest in the House," he added, stressing that conducting the meeting by Speaker amidst the sloganeering of the main opposition party as well as protests of other parties standing from their seats was not appropriate.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is seeking a vote of confidence for the fourth time on May 20.

He is taking the vote of confidence after the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal withdrew support to the government on May 13.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire’s press advisor Shekhar Adhikari informed that the PM has written to the federal Parliament Secretariat to make arrangements to seek a vote of confidence on May 20.

As per Article 100 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal, the PM should table a motion in HoR for the vote of confidence within 30 days if a political party in a coalition government withdraws its support to the Prime Minister.

CPN-UML, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), CPN (Unified Socialist) and some other political parties in the HoR are the coalition members of the present government formed under the leadership of CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

The government has presented its policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year  in parliament. The programs brought by the government are a mere continuation of the previous fiscal year. Some new programs with attractive slogans have also been included. It remains to be seen whether these programs will be implemented and yield desired results. Political parties, however, have done their part—ruling ones have welcomed it, while those in the opposition have said it lacks direction and most of the programs are unimplementable. 

Nepal has not left any stone unturned in formulating policies, programs and plans to make it a developed nation. However, development works are progressing at a snail’s pace while irresponsibility and lack of good governance are rampant. As a result, the issues covered in policies/programs and budgeted projects remain similar for decades. The country cannot move forward this way. Mere continuity of the tradition cannot yield new achievements. 

Programs like achieving agricultural self-sufficiency, completing national pride projects on time, increasing per capita income, building smart cities, creating jobs, boosting exports and constructing railways are featured in policies and programs and budget speech almost every year. These programs do not yield desired results as neither sufficient budgetary allocations are made, nor sufficient homeworks are done before their announcements. The government brings policies and programs with great enthusiasm every year. However, there is no mechanism to gauge the effectiveness of these policies programs. The effectiveness of these policies and programs are neither reviewed, nor agencies and officials responsible for implementing them are held accountable. 

This situation will persist unless a scientific basis is provided for how the programs will be implemented. So rather than focusing on what programs are included, it is more important to identify which ones will actually be implemented and prioritize them accordingly. For effective implementation of the policies and programs, the government needs to be stable. Even with the same prime minister, frequent changes in ministers and policies have been occurring, let alone the uncertainty of which party will ally with whom to topple or form a new government. Political parties need to be aware that development programs cannot deliver desired outcomes in such situations.

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and main opposition Nepali Congress leader Dhanraj Gurung had a verbal exchange in the Parliament on Thursday.

They had a verbal exchange when the Parliament meeting was underway.

Oli and Gurung had some verbal exchange about whether or not to allow Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane, accused of embezzling the cooperative funds, to speak in the Parliament.

The Congress lawmakers chanted slogans in protest soon after the Parliament meeting commenced this afternoon.

Speaker Devraj Ghimire, however, continued the Parliament proceedings ignoring the protest by the Nepali Congress.

He read out the letter from the President’s Office and gave Home Minister Lamichhane time to speak.

In the meantime, Congress leaders barred Home Minister Lamichhane from going to the rostrum. Oli tried to convince the Congress lawmakers.

At the same time, Congress leader Dhanraj Gurung pointed a finger at Chairman Oli and traded verbal barbs. After that, former Prime Minister Oli became aggressive.

Following the incident, Speaker Ghimire postponed the meeting till 11 am tomorrow.

The main opposition Nepali Congress has decided to continue the House obstruction.

A meeting of the senior leaders of the party held in Singha Durbar decided to continue the obstruction until a parliamentary probe committee is formed to investigate fraud charges against Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane.

Congress spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat accused the ruling coalition of trying to get away by saying that it would only investigate the issue of cooperatives apart from Lamichhane.

“The issue of cooperatives should be investigated. But Rabi ji is also embroiled in the case of embezzling the funds of the cooperative. Police have not taken that case ahead. That is why we demanded the formation of a parliamentary probe committee,” he said.

Leader Mahat further said that the issue of Lamichhane should also be included while forming the parliamentary committee.

“No consensus has been forged to resume the Parliament yet. The issue of Home Minister Lamichhane should also be included in the cooperative embezzlement case. The ruling coalition is not ready for that,” he said.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 0.79 points to close at 2,018.76 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 0.27 points to close at 358. 37 points.

A total of 8,282,556-unit shares of 315 companies were traded for Rs 4. 23 billion.

Meanwhile, Himalayan Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (HLBSL), Jalpa Samudayik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (JALPA) and Shrijanshil Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SHLB) were the top gainers today, with their price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Mandu Hydropower Limited (MANDU) was the top loser as its price fell by 5.76 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 20 trillion.  

Police have arrested three foreign nationals in possession of cocaine worth around Rs 80 million.

Organizing a press conference in Kathmandu on Thursday, the Narcotics Control Bureau informed that three foreign nationals were apprehended with 2. 65 kg cocaine from various places of the Capital.

Police said that they have apprehended Kevin Mugala (44) of Uganda, who came to Kathmandu from Qatar on May 12, with 1. 26 kg of cocaine from Sinamangal.

Similarly, Lilyan Susanath of Uganda was nabbed with 1.39 kg of cocaine from Dhobichaur on May 15.

Likewise, Indian national Diwa Jani Pal (33) was held with 394 grams of cocaine on May 15.

According to police, all the arrestees are involved in the international gang.

Police said that they are searching for other persons involved in the drug smuggling.