Nepal’s Handicraft Exports Soar Up By 39 Percent

Nepal’s handicraft exports soared 39.66 percent in the first half of the current fiscal year. The Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) has attributed the growth to the promotion of innovative handicraft products and a rising US dollar.

According to FHAN, the value of handicraft exports surged to Rs 2.08 billion from Rs 1.49 billion during the review period. Among the export items, textiles jumped 40.77 percent to Rs 1.03 billion while non-textile products increased 38.58 percent to Rs 1.05 billion.

FHAN President Bikash Ratna Dhakhwa said the effort to export handicrafts of new designs was among the reasons behind the spurt in exports. He added that FHAN had started promoting handicraft products in designs suitable to the lifestyles of the importing countries.

Among textile products, goods made of wool, silk, felt, hemp and allo registered a significant growth during the period. Exports of silk products almost trebled to Rs 108.76 million while allo products surged 141 percent to Rs 1.35 million. Similarly, felt and hemp products registered growths of 37 percent and 61 percent respectively.