Export Diversification for Human Development in the Post-Quota Era
To address the negative consequences of the quota phase out on textiles and clothing (T&C) sector on human development and be proactive in diversifying its export markets as well as products, the government and the private sector must establish partnership between them and be forward looking. The participants attending the dissemination meeting that SAWTEE and ActionAid Nepal jointly organized here also viewed that Nepal needs to review the performance of other garment exporting countries so that it could take lessons on the policy, partnership and implementation aspects to revive the garment industry in Nepal.
The meeting was organized to disseminate the findings of two research studies - Human Development Impact Assessment in the Post ATC Period and Export Diversification Strategy for Nepal - which the organizers conducted under a project of UNDP Regional Centre in Colombo.
The meeting was divided into three sessions - the first session was the introductory and two others were technical sessions.
Delivering his remarks as the chief guest in the introductory session, Dr Posh Raj Pandey, Member, National Planning Commission mentioned the causes of the failure of the garment industry in the post quota phase out. He said that it is high time for the private sector and the government to be proactive in reviving the garment industry. He also emphasized the importance of ensuring transparency and non-discrimination in international trade. During the same session, Mr Mathew Kahane, Resident Representative, UNDP Nepal emphasized that the RMG sector should diversify its market besides the US such as in countries like the EU, Australia, Canada and Japan. In addition, he stressed that Nepal should identify niche markets and diversify its products to address human development concerns. Chair of the session, Mr Bharat Bahadur Thapa, Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies made it explicit that the government is committed to revive the garment industry and requested the researchers to come up with recommendations that could help the government devise suitable and appropriate strategies.
In the two technical sessions, Mr Navin Dahal, Executive Director and Mr Shivaraj Bhatta, Economist of SAWTEE made presentations on the findings of two research studies. Mr Shyam Sundar Sharma, Joint Secretary, NPC Secretariat chaired the first session "Human Development Impact Assessment in the Post ATC Period: A Case of Nepal". Mr Kiran Saakha, President, GAN and Mr Ratnakar Adhikari, Programme Specialist, UNDP Regional Centre, Colombo were the discussants. The second session "Export Diversification Strategy for Nepal" was chaired by Mr Naindra P. Upadhyay, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. Mr Kiran Raj Pandey, Director, Agro Enterprise Center (AEC), FNCCI and Dr Puskar Bajracharya, Lecturer, Tribhuvan University were the discussants.
Around 65 participants representing the government, private sector, civil society, media and academician were present in the meeting.
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