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			'id' => '2728',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Nepali RMG Waiting For Its Revival',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Since quota phase out Nepali readymade garment (RMG) industry has observed numerous ups and down along with huge challenges but the government is yet to show serious concern for its revival. During the industry&rsquo;s heyday, the sector alone used to export RMG products worth more than Rs 12 billion but recent statistics do not show any distinct progress.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	According to the garment exporters, the industry is yet to see the light of day. Though there are queries for export orders and production but it&rsquo;s far below the satisfactory level. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s true that the industry is receiving queries from the international market mainly from the European Union but the queries and export orders are yet not satisfactory,&rdquo; Ashok Kumar Agrawal, general secretary at the Garment Association - Nepal (GAN) said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Full implementation of Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on January 2005 ended 40 years of quota based trade of textiles and garment. The expiry of the quota system has not only resulted in the drastic decline of the Nepali RMG export but has also led to the closure of manufacturing units.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Though quota phase out has affected our industry but we are still waiting for the government to lobby for the Generalised System of Preference (GSP) in the United States which used to be the top garment importer of our country,&rdquo; said Agrawal. According to him, though the GSP facility is available in EU, the quantity of order still remains low. &ldquo;We need the government support and special programmes for the revival of the industry,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Another major reason for this critical situation of the garment industry is insufficient commitment at the industry and policy making levels for responding to foreseen adjustment problems in trade without quota. &ldquo;We are committed towards capacity building and policy innovation for responding to the changed scenario through active coordination between private sector and the government&rdquo;, Agrawal said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	At present garment manufacturers are receiving orders for traditional readymade garments such as traditional stitching, designs and handmade embroidery. In midst of other troubles, the industry is also running sort of sufficient skilled labour force. &nbsp;Though comparative statistics of the Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC) show an increment of around 50 per cent in total garment exports in the past six months&rsquo;, exporters allude this increase to the spike in dollar exchange rates during the period. Total export of Nepali garment in 2012-13 was worth Rs 1.811 billion, which increased by 50.4 per cent with a total export of Rs 2.72 billion during the first six months of the current fiscal year, states the TEPC statistics.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong><img alt="Export of Garment" src="/userfiles/images/f3%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; width: 200px; height: 314px;" />Present Scenario of Nepali Garment Industry&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Exporters looking forward for revising GSP facility to the US</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The US GSP programme for Nepal expired on July 31, 2013, which has further hit the declining export of Nepali RMG to its top buyer: United States. However the garment exporters are hopeful that the government will take initiatives to revise the GSP facility. During the first meeting of Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) in the US, Nepal had raised the issue of GSP facilitation for garments. Nepali entrepreneurs had also underlined the need to revise GSP during the first joint council meeting of Nepal and US to clear trade hurdles.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Proper cash incentive scheme can create new opportunities</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The government has only fixed one per cent cash incentive for readymade garments. Earlier, it used to provide two to three per cent cash incentive. This amendment failed to encourage the overall export sector. Garment exporters, find this incentive scheme unjustified and call for revising it.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>The garment industrialist waiting for the inclusion of Nepali Garment in the NTIS revised priority list</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Failure to increase the export figures and lack of new markets for products in the NTIS priority list has raised concerns among the exporters about the advantage of being listed in the priority list. According to the exporters the government should have included readymade garments along with woodcraft and stone craft in the NTIS priority products. Garments, carpets, pashmina and handicraft products were defined as special focus area for export promotion. Despite having a large share in the total exportable products of the country and despite being recognized as product with comparative advantage by the Nepal Trade and Competitiveness study, readymade garments still remains out of the NTIS priority products list.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Search for new destination&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepali readymade garment has plans to explore Australian market as its new export destination. According to GAN, Australia already has been importing large quantity of readymade garments from India, Bangladesh and Srilanka and it can be a good opportunity for the country if the Australian market could be researched. In the past single market concentration has hurt the Nepali readymade garment sector and this fact has necessitated the diversification of market for its products.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Nepali Garments" src="/userfiles/images/f1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 362px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>',
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			'description' => 'During the industry’s heyday, the sector alone used to export RMG products worth more than Rs 12 billion but recent statistics do not show any distinct progress.',
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			'id' => '2712',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Silver Lining On Silver Jewellery',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>History of Silver jewellery</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal has a long tradition of craftsmanship in many forms like wood carving, metal craft, stone carving and, working silver and gold into exquisite pieces of jewellery. The manufacture of jewellery in Nepal is wide spread throughout the country since time immemorial. The production of jewellery is labour intensive industry that was based on caste and cultural heritage. It was traditionally confined only to the Newari Shakya and Sunar families, but nowadays, other castes are also equally involved in this occupation. The local demand of jewellery has traditionally confined to social and religious occasions and other ritual ceremonies. The arrival of foreign tourist has led to the mingling of the traditional heritage with modern foreign market taste. The filigree cuttings have made Nepali silver jewelleries peerless. The handmade production process has made it possible to spread over rural areas benefiting the rural mass.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Present scenario</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Once the poor second cousin of gold, silver jewellery has become a cool, contemporary style icon in its own right. &ldquo;The skyrocketing price of the yellow metal people from various walks of life are getting more attracted to the cheaper yet stylish silver jewelleries,&rdquo; said former president of Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers&rsquo; Association Tej Ratna Shakya. According to him, on an average around 100-150 kilos of silver is traded daily in the local market. Apart from the jewellery, the silver utensils are also on high demand due to the influence of Indian culture,&rdquo; Shakya said. He also added that the trading of silver products is increasing remarkably in the local market and the situation is improving in the international market too. Silver is used mainly in household and industrial purpose. However the trend of silver jewellery is also catching among youths here who are more attracted to silver bracelets, rings, earrings, bangles and pendants as their fashion statements.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<table align="center" width="100">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>
				<img alt="Customers purchasing silver ornaments at Silver Palace, New Road." src="/userfiles/images/f.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 550px; height: 374px;" /></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td bgcolor="#DDDDDD">
				<div align="center">
					<div style="text-align: center;">
						<strong>Customers purchasing silver ornaments at Silver Palace, New Road.</strong></div>
					<div style="text-align: right;">
						<em>Photos: Rukesh Shrestha/TC</em></div>
				</div>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>International Market Trend</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Following the laboratory certification system for the silver articles, the export of silver article is gradually moving ahead in the international market. &ldquo;Now we do not have problems while exporting silver products in the European market which is the major buyer of the product,&rdquo; said Shakya. However the government must actively look for upgrading the existing certification method. Nepali Silver Jewellery is one of the major overseas export products next to other handicraft products of the country. The number of the export markets of this product has crossed 30 out of which, USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Japan, France, Italy and Australia are the&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	leading ones.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Now Certified&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Introduction of quality testing certification for Nepali silver jewellery has averted possible ban for the products in European market on charges of having traces of restricted chemical &lsquo;Cadmium&rsquo; in them. The certification system that tests any silver product for this chemical and certifies it as quality product of the country has once again brought charm to silver products in the local and the international market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;The export of silver jewellery that was about to get ban in the European country has finally received a relief as now we have a proper certification system, which certifies the purity of the product,&rdquo; said Shakya. Earlier the European Union was mulling on banning the import of Nepali silver jewellery if the exporters failed to certify that the products were free of cadmium. Cadmium is a known carcinogenic substance and various studies have concluded that it is toxic. Long-term contact of it can cause kidney and bone damage. According to the silver exporters now only 0.01 per cent cadmium is allowed in the exportable silver products.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="NTIS" src="/userfiles/images/F1.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 300px; height: 525px;" />Initiative of Government</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS) 2010, put in place by the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies has prioritised 19 goods and services (7 agro-food products, 5 craft and industrial goods and 7 services) for export promotion in the next three to five years. Silver jewellery is one of the five craft and industrial goods on this priority list. German International Cooperation (GIZ) is one of those development partners, which have been supporting the government in implementing NTIS 2010. In consultation with MoCS, it has chosen two of the 19 products and services prioritized by NTIS 2010, namely medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPS)/essential oils and silver jewellery, to help enhance their exports.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Facts about Silver jewellery</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal&rsquo;s world market share of silver jewellery exports is about 0.2 percent. In the past few years, exports have been fairly stable and prospect for future export is generally seen as very good. Production costs are competitive and workers are readily available. Most major markets grant duty-free access to Nepali silver jewellery. There are also no any non-tariff barriers (NTBs) hindering exports of silver jewellery from Nepal, except that use of cadmium has resulted in ban of some items entering European markets.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Firms and companies involved in jewellery production and export are owned by private entrepreneurs and operate as small-scale/cottage producers. Firms normally outsource jewellery production to individual craftsmen who have in-house workshops. Annual production of silver jewellery in Nepal is 15 to 20 metric tons (MT) while the annual production capacity is estimated at 50 M. Silver jewellery is fully handmade in Nepal. Productivity and quality can be improved if production were further mechanized.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Monthly salaries of skilled workers in the silver jewellery sector is around US$100, which is less than that in competing countries such as India and Thailand. Almost all silver and 95 percent of gemstones and semiprecious stones required for jewellery are imported from India, Brazil, Thailand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and distributed by local importers.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	According to the Nepal Trade Integration Strategy 2010 almost half of the total production of silver jewellery produced in Nepal is supplied to the domestic market and the rest is exported. However, even those supplied to the domestic market are usually exported later either through resale to tourists or through informal exports. Poor business environment in the country has encouraged informal trade in substantial quantity.</div>',
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			'description' => 'Following the laboratory certification system the export of silver article is gradually moving ahead in the international market.',
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			'id' => '2646',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Nepali Tea: Tea from the High Lands',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Nepal has a long history of tea cultivation, initiated with the establishment of Ilam Tea Estate in the hills of Ilam district in 1863 and Soktim Tea Estate in the plains. It is believed that tea plantation in Nepal started within the same decade, when it was introduced in the hills of Darjeeling, India.</p>
<p>
	First private sector tea plantation in Terai was established in 1959 under the name of Bhudhakaran Tea Estate. Government joined the sector in 1966 with the establishment of Nepal Tea Development Corporation. After considering the potential for tea farming in the eastern development region, in 1982 five districts of the region i.e. Jhapa, Ilam, Panchthar, Terhathum and Dhankuta were declared &lsquo;Tea Zone&rsquo;. However now days Tea is also cultivated in few other districts.<br />
	<br />
	Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board says that promotional activities to promote Nepali tea in the international market are inadequate even though it is listed as a priority in the Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS) 2010. This list includes the 19 Nepali products that have export potential. &ldquo;The government should be more concerned about its promotion in the international market so that it receives better market value and positioning in the international market,&rdquo; states the board.</p>
<p>
	<img alt="Tea Plantation &amp; Production" src="/userfiles/images/f3%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 225px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></p>
<p>
	The 2011 &ndash; 12 statistics states that the tea plantations which covers the area of 18149 hectares of land across the nation annually produces 18.3 million kgs of Tea and provides direct employment to 100 thousand people. Private sector actors in the industry comprise of small farmer as well big corporate houses that have large tea estates with tea processing factories and marketing mechanism.</p>
<p>
	<img alt="Tea Plantation and Production in Nepal" src="/userfiles/images/f1%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 237px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></p>
<p>
	There are 140 registered tea estates and 40 tea processing factories that produce 85 per cent of the nation&rsquo;s production volume.Some of these factories do not have their own tea estate. They process tea produced by small and medium tea farmers. This type of small holding tea estate farming is anticipated to flourish in the days ahead.</p>
<p>
	<img alt="Orthodox and CTC TEa Plantation" src="/userfiles/images/f2%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 174px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /><br />
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Packaging Industry</strong></span><br />
	There are two types of tea packaging industries operating in Nepal. First of these are the ones operated large scale tea producers who have their own tea estates and use the facility to package their products exclusively. Another type of factories buy tea products from national and international producers and package it at their own facility.<br />
	<br />
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Forecasts</strong></span><br />
	Presently Tea plantation is dominated by small holders. Future target is set to extend plantation to 40 thousand hectares with an expected harvest of 46 million kg of tea annually whose worth is estimated to be around 247 million dollars. This will generate employment for 102 thousand people in rural areas and is expected to boost up the rural economy, states the Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board.<br />
	<br />
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="Nepal TEa" src="/userfiles/images/f4%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 100px; height: 110px;" />Branding Efforts</strong></span><br />
	National Tea and Coffee Development Board has developed a logo in accordance to the provision of the National Tea Policy 2000 to introduce N e p a l Tea in the domestic and international market and create its niche. Half circle green background embedded by double red circle of this national tea logo indicates the eco-friendly environment of the tea garden; where a tea twig having two leaves and a bud flourish. Along with that the smiling and shining southern face of the Mt. Everest placed in the upper half portion of this logo signifies as the tea produced in the land of Himalayas. Two words &ldquo;NEPAL TEA&rdquo; placed within the diameter of the logo circle establish unfailingly as a brand that symbolizes &ndash; &ldquo;A symbol of quality from the top of the world.&rdquo;</p>',
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			'created' => '2014-02-23',
			'modified' => '2014-03-03',
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			'description' => 'There are 140 Registered Tea Estate which contribute 85 per cent of the National’s production volume. Nepal has 40 Tea processing factories in private sectors.',
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			'id' => '2623',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'A Case Of Doctor’s Negligence An Appendectomy Gone Wrong',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Shriya Pant&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Timro thulo dassaa taryo.&rdquo; (It&rsquo;s a Nepali saying whose English equivalent would be &ldquo;it could have been worse!). I have been getting that a lot since I had an appendectomy on October 2, 2013. It is a straight-forward medical procedure that interns often perform as their first surgery. But this simple procedure has left me with nerve damage &ndash; a condition called Meralgia paraesthetica - that is both physically and mentally frustrating.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	And the worst thing is, after consulting numerous doctors, it turns out I most likely did not even have appendicitis. The pain in my abdomen was pain that can sometimes occur after one has had shingles &ndash; which many doctors and surgeons often confuse for appendicitis. Instead of asking me for my medical history, Vayodha Hospital went straight for the surgery route, and consequently, I am living with something that could have been avoided had they simply asked.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Through my personal experience, I want to highlight the questionable state of private medical care in Nepal -- bring to light the flawed medical system, from the attitude of the doctors, the way in which the medical staff were so quick to wheel me into the operating theatre, to how the hospital management were not open to compensate me for my resulting nerve damage.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Considering that the pain I had was not excruciating nor was my appendix at its bursting point, I would have expected the staff at Vayodha to at least put me under observation for a night. But instead, what I got was &ldquo;the surgeon is about to leave, what have you decided?&rdquo; This kind of pressure on the patient does nothing but enhance stress. Yes, the final decision was ours to make, but had the hospital informed, counseled and encouraged us it was not urgent and that ideally, it would be best to observe my condition, we would have surely followed their advice.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	A patient is not a medical expert; s/he expects proper advice and counseling from doctors or hospital staff. In fact, such advice and counseling should be part of the basic services they offer. Unfortunately, profit, and not patient care and relationships, seems to be their mantra - something that was apparent not only in my experience, but is characteristic of the larger private health care system.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In the insatiable quest to make money, hospitals are springing up everywhere in Kathmandu. Where some sound and caring medical advice would be sufficient, patients are being forced to undergo procedures that may not be necessary because they cost more, whether it&rsquo;s being forced to have C-sections, or other surgeries that should not be the first course of action.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	While I appreciate that both the director of Vayodha and my surgeon took the time to talk to me about my nerve damage, it was more procedural and neither offered to pay for physiotherapy or other alternative courses to help alleviate the pain (whatever that might be). The surgeon also stubbornly refused to admit that this kind of nerve damage could occur after surgery. Most surprisingly he did not even know what Meralgia paraesthetica was. Instead, he proudly claimed to have simply made a small incision and slid the appendix out within 10-15 minutes!&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The refusal from the doctor that he may have made a mistake is not surprising. We live in a country where doctors believe, and we reinforce this belief, that they are like god, who know best, and can do no wrong. This is further reinforced by the fact that in Nepal, there are no repercussions for not doing your job properly. Negligence accompanied by impunity is the rule of the game.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	I am one of the privileged Nepalis, being able to afford a private hospital and seek medical care. But I don&rsquo;t want to keep going back to our beloved recourse of mero dasa rahecha (It was my bad luck), or ke garne (what to do?). I don&rsquo;t want to leave what should be practical, scientific and technical solutions to higher powers regardless of the fact that a majority of doctors in this country seem to think they possess. And I don&rsquo;t want to remain quiet any longer.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
	<em>(Pant has an MSC in international Health Policy from London School of Economics and is a public health professional.)</em></div>',
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			'description' => 'In Nepali healthcare system, negligence accompanied by impunity is the rule of the game.',
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			'id' => '2616',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Health Of Nepali Ayurvedic Sector',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Although the use of modern medicine has been increasing over the years in Nepal, more than 75 percent of the country&rsquo;s population is estimated to be using traditional medicine. Ayurveda, Amchi, Homeopathy and Naturopathy are important traditional health systems that are in practice within the country. Among them, Ayurveda is the oldest and most popular traditional health care system. Dr Baburaja Amatya, Senior Ayurveda Doctor at the Department of Drug Administration said, &ldquo;Government has opened Ayurvedic Health Centre in every district of the country. This is indicative of the initiative taken by the government in the development of Ayurveda treatment system.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Increasing Scope</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Be it rural or the urbanities, people have been increasingly opting for Ayurvedic treatment, which can be clearly noticed in the comparative increase of sales and distribution of the Ayurvedic medicines this year. Dr Amatya said, &ldquo;People are gradually shifting their treatment system from allopathic to ayurvedic one and this is visible in the increase of sales of ayurvedic medicines. &nbsp;The sales of these medicines have doubled this year than that of previous years.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Increasing numbers of ayurvedic companies is another factor that reflects increasing use of ayurvedic treatment among Nepalis. There are 76 Nepali ayurvedic companies and recently some Indian ayurvedic companies are also being established in Nepal. &ldquo;Almost 30 Indian companies have opened their industry in Nepal promoting the national ayurvedic industry.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Abundant Raw Materials&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal has a special place in the history of ayurveda. It has rich biodiversity associated with its topographical diversity makes Nepal home to some 1,700 medical plants used in ayurvedic treatment.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Initiatives taken</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Both, the government and the private sector, has been investing and promoting ayurvedic treatment system. Gajendra Bahadur Bhuju, director general at the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) said, &ldquo;Nepali government has opened an ayurvedic health center in each district. &nbsp;Along with that it has established factories mainly in Butwal, Rupandehi, Birgunj and Kathmandu and some other districts.&rdquo; &ldquo;There are more than 100 companies in Nepal owned by government, private sector and foreign investors,&rdquo; he added.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Verification Measures</strong></span></div>
<div>
	DDA is the regulatory body certifying the production, distribution and quality control of the ayurvedic medicines in Nepal. &ldquo;The medicines can only be distributed to the market after it is certified as bacteria free,&rdquo; Dr Amatya said. He added, &ldquo;Similarly, the medicines are also checked for use of heavy materials like arsenic, lead etc during the manufacture process.&rdquo; &nbsp;An ayurvedic medicine manufacturing company should mandatorily acquire bacteria free certificate for acquiring permission to market its products. Amatya said the certification process has helped in increasing the quality of the ayurvedic medicines leading to the rise in credibility of Nepali ayurvedic medicines.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Export potential&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Demand for traditional medicine has been growing strongly over the last 15 years, especially in developed countries. As the land of Ayurveda, Nepal is a natural attraction for foreign consumers for alternative medicine. Adding to it, the resurgence of faith in traditional medicine among urban Nepalis after decades of domination of traditional health systems by modern medicine, seems promising.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	According to experts, main challenges in this sector include lack of resources and budget in government-owned health institutions, lack of medicines and equipment, lack of programmes that correspond to the need of communities; malpractices at the local level, lack of pathology and radiology services at district ayurveda health centres and lack of awareness among people of available Ayurveda services.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Amatya said, &ldquo;People still lack proper information about the usage, utilization of different ayurvedic medicines as a result of which its popularity is not increasing as expected.&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Steps to be taken</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Ayurveda treatment system has a long way to go in Nepal though it has abundant raw materials for preparing such medicines. Instead of exporting unprocessed herbs to foreign nations at cheaper prices, herbs should be processed within the country and exported at better prices. Maintaining international standards in the quality of human resources used and medicine produced are crucial for the industry to thrive at the international level. Similarly the government should launch effective publicity campaigns, aimed at nationals as well as foreigners, to highlight the effectiveness and benefits of using ayurvedic medicines.&nbsp;</div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-02-18',
			'modified' => '2014-02-23',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Although the use of modern medicine has been increasing over the years in Nepal, more than 75 percent of the country’s population is estimated to be using traditional medicine. Ayurveda, Amchi, Homeopathy and Naturopathy are important traditional health systems that are in practice within the country.',
			'sortorder' => '2457',
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	),
	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2582',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Chyangra Pashmina Regains Warmth',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Eliza Tuladhar</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	With the joint efforts of the government and the World Trade Organization (WTO)/ Enhanced Integrated Framework Trading Stories project, a project that aims to improve Pashmina product development and marketing, the Nepali Chyangra Pashmina is finally going to receive a new lease of life. Pashmina product is one of the major exportable products of the country but the export of the product started declining in the early 2000 when the international market started importing Pashmina products from Chinese and the Indian Market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The loss of reputation has significantly affected the Pashmina that was a very strong export industry for Nepal. In the year 2000, the industry had exported Pashmina worth Rs 15 billion but it has reduced to a mere Rs 1 billion currently due to the cheap fake products that keep the market flooded.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	However now with the support of WTO/EIF Trading Stories project the Pashmina industrialist are hopeful to revive its international trading and minimize the threat created due to the increasing number of export from the Chinese and Indian market. According to Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA) President, Pushpa Man Shrestha, the association is hopeful that the project will start from March this year. &ldquo;The project under the WTO/EIF Trading Stories is a three years long project which will be basically focused on showcasing, Chyangra farming, production of raw material, Pashmina manufacturing process and finally its trading process,&rdquo; said Shrestha.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The &lsquo;Pashmina Enhancement and Trade Support project under WTO aims to respond to trade related priorities in the Nepal Trade Integrated Strategies as well as to build sustainable local capacities and leverage additional resources from development partner pursuant to the goal. The project will contribute to achieving improved and increased export performance by at least 20 per cent. Chyangra Pashmina from Nepal is exported to more than 60 countries and the &lsquo;Chyangra&rsquo; trademark is registered in more than 40 of these countries.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Due to weak quality control and nominal productions of domestic raw materials, as well as lack of brand awareness of Nepali &lsquo;Chyangra Pashmina&rsquo; in the international market the export of Pashmina has been disturbed.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>History of Pashmina</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Pashmina is the finest inner wool that grows as layer at the very bottom of thick and coarse fibre of Himalayan goat, locally known as chyangra (Capra Hircus), living above 2000 meter from the sea level. Each chyangra does produce 90 grams of Pashmina once a year. It is extracted from its body either by combing or by cutting during January to February. Pashmina is one of the finest, softest, warmest and lightest wool found in nature. In fact, it is the best wool in the world. Pashmina is known by different names like &ldquo;Diamond Fibre&rdquo; and &ldquo;Soft Gold of High Asia&rdquo;. It is unparalleled in uniqueness and elegance to any other fibres. The main raw materials used for producing Pashmina products are &lsquo;Pashmina Yarn&rsquo; and &lsquo;Silk Yarn&rsquo; plus dyes and chemicals.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Pashmina in Nepal" src="/userfiles/images/pmn%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 260px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Production of Pashmina&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The production process of pashmina product generally includes weaving, dyeing, processing, fringing, tassels, embroidery, beadwork, printing etc. Nepali Chyangra Pashmina, one of the major exportable product of the country is &lsquo;the softest, exotically, delicate, weightless and the finest insulating fibre of the world with high potential for export to the European market. The outer layer of Chyangra is discarded and only the inner layer of fibre measuring less than 16.5 microns is specified for use as Pashmina. These extraordinary characters of Pashmina fibres have encouraged weavers to produce various types of wraps for warmness. The exquisite characters of Nepali Chyangra Pashmina have established it as the most precious possession. The Pashmina fibre thus obtained from the Chyangra are spun into thin yarn which is woven to make different types of Pashmina products like blankets, shawls, stoles, scarves as well as pullovers, cardigans etc.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Pricing of Pashmina products&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The price of Nepali Pashmina product basically depends upon its quality, ordering size, colour, design and size. Almost all of the Pashmina industries are concentrated in the Kathmandu Valley. They are absolutely export-oriented. However, it has been given the impression that as many as 5 per cent of its products may be consumed within the country. Pashmina products account for more than 50 per cent of the total export figure of the handicraft products. And it is the major export component under the handicraft goods category.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The number of international export markets of Nepali Pashmina products exceeds 40 out of which, USA, Italy, Canada, UK, France, Japan, Germany and India are the major ones.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Challenges faced by Nepali Chyangra Pashmina</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepali Pashmina industries need to import all the raw material. Pashmina Yarn and Silk Yarn are imported from China and India and Chemicals and dyes from Europe and India. It can be made of pure Pashmina yarn or by using both Pashmina yarn and Silk yarn in a certain proportion normally in the ratio of 70:30, depending upon the demand of the buyers. Fineness, softness, warmness, lightness, durability and craftsmanship are its inherent features. Shrestha also claimed that lower priced Indian Pashmina products have hit the market of Nepali Pashmina and has made it difficult to survive the growing price competition. Pashmina exporters also say that according to the international buyers, price of Nepali Pashmina products is around 30 per cent more than that of Indian products. Indian exporters can buy huge quantity of raw materials and have started their own spinning that has made their products more competitive in the international market.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Pashmina industries in the country&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	According to Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA) there are around 20 industries that have exports of around Rs one billion including exports to India. There are 300 Pashmina exporters registered at NPIA and out of them 20 have high production capacity and with good export figures. There are around two to four industries who also export Pashmina to India.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Pashmina was famous across the world for the past couple of decades but with the introduction of low priced and fake Pashmina wool, the original Pashmina industry is fighting for existence. However the product is gradually being reintroduced as the brand &lsquo;Chyangra Pashmina&rsquo;. &ldquo;We have tried to reintroduce the Nepali Pashmina with the brand &lsquo;Chyangra Pashmina; and we hope that the WTO/EIF project will give us much required support to move ahead with promotion and development of new products and improvement of the products that will meet the demands of the international market,&rdquo; said Shrestha. The association along with the government has registered a collective trademark &lsquo;Chyangra Pashmina&rsquo; and its logo in the domestic and international markets to get rid of fake pashmina. Chyangra pashmina is now a registered brand in 41 countries. The association has also applied for its registration in South Africa, Brazil, Russia, Taiwan and the UAE.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The World Trade Organization has recently developed trading stories of Pashmina to create awareness about the product and bring more opportunities for it in the international market. The Pashmina trading story includes each step of production &ndash;&ndash; from Chyangra farming to processing &ndash;&ndash; which will help create awareness about pure Chyangra Pashmina among the people in around 148 countries.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="10" width="99%">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td bgcolor="#E5E4E2">
				<div>
					<div>
						<div>
							<div>
								<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><img alt="Shawl" src="/userfiles/images/1%20(Copy)(3).jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 50px; height: 102px;" />Shawl</strong></span></div>
							<div>
								Pashmina Shawls are the most exportable Nepali product. It is loosely worn over the shoulders, upper body, and arms. Generally in Nepal it is used by ladies in parties and function, outings in winter season where as in the western countries female use it anytime as a fashion statement.&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><img alt="Stole" src="/userfiles/images/2%20(Copy)(3).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 75px; height: 90px;" />Stole</strong></span></div>
							<div>
								Pashmina stole is a smaller form of the shawl. Nepal is renowned all over the world for its finely woven Pashmina stoles. Stoles are mostly used by younger generation without wrapping. It covers the shoulders and falls down in front of the body.&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><img alt="Scarf" src="/userfiles/images/3%20(Copy)(3).jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; width: 80px; height: 100px;" />Scarf</strong></span></div>
							<div>
								A scarf is a piece of fabric worn around the neck for warmth. &nbsp;Nepal is well known for its finely woven Pashmina scarves. It is also one of the most exportable products.&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								&nbsp;</div>
						</div>
					</div>
				</div>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-02-10',
			'modified' => '2014-02-18',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'With the joint efforts of the government and the World Trade Organization (WTO)/ Enhanced Integrated Framework Trading Stories project, a project that aims to improve Pashmina product development and marketing, the Nepali Chyangra Pashmina is finally going to receive a new lease of life.',
			'sortorder' => '2426',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2574',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'MAN’s Past And Present',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	<strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Management Association of Nepal (MAN) was established in 1979 as the apex body of management professionals with active support of the corporate sector. As a national-level non-profit and non-partisan membership-based professional organization, MAN has been an important forum for developing management professionalism and for fostering a performance-oriented and socially responsible work culture in the country. It has a strong membership base of over 1,700 individuals and 180 institutions that are associated with various disciplines and sectors of Nepali economy and society.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	MAN is one of the founding members of the Asian Association of Management Organizations (AAMO). It has close links with a number of well-known professional bodies like the American Management Association (AMA) and All India Management Association (AIMA). These linkages provide MAN access to information on best management practices and techniques available in the other parts of the world. Experts have increasingly stressed that the ongoing processes of state&rsquo;s restructuring and transformation in Nepal should follow management development process for effectiveness and sustainability</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Organisational structure of MAN</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The General Assembly is the supreme body in MAN&rsquo;s organizational structure and is responsible for providing policy guidelines and directives. It elects an executive committee in every two years. The executive committee implements policies, approves programs and provides guidelines to the secretariat. A secretariat, headed by the Executive Director is responsible for the organization&rsquo;s day-to-day administration and management. MAN develops and delivers its services through active participation of its members.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Current MAN executive committee</strong></span></div>
<div>
	There are 19 members in the incumbent executive committee of MAN with Janak Raj Shah as its president, Uttar Kumar Shrestha as the first vice president, Gosal KC second vice president, Sushil Kumar Aryal as secretary general, and Shanti Laxmi Shakya as the treasurer. The remaining 13 members are Arjun Kumar Gautam, Dilip Raj Paudel, Prof. Dr Fatta Bahadur KC, Jeevan Devi Kansakar, Krishna Gyawali, Pratap Kumar Pathak, Pratik Adhikari, Rajiv Pokharel, Rameshwor Prasad Khanal, Saroj Kumar Pradhan, Dr.Som Prasad Pudasaini, Tikajit Rai, and Sushil Bhatta. Kaji Bahadur Dahal has been acting as the executive director of this association.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Awards</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Management Association of Nepal (MAN) started the MAN Manager of the Year Award in 1987 with an aim to promote development of management skills and to recognize best management practitioners. In 2002, the association also started felicitating outstanding Women managers with the Women Manager Recognition Award. In some exceptional case, the association also felicitates people who have made outstandingcontribution to management sector with its prestigious &lsquo;Outstanding Management Award.&rsquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In its earlier days, the association focused on financial sector as the recipient of its awards, but later on, it increased outreach and scope of the award to other sectors like hospital, music, education, corporates etc. The association is planning to felicitate civil servants from this year by introducing Civil Servant Award this year. &ldquo;We will select one of the government employees after proper analysis and confirmations from various sources,&rdquo; said MAN executive director Kaji Bahadur Dahal.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Annual activities&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Management Association of Nepal focuses on research, training, and education sector. &ldquo;Apart from research and training programmes we have our own management college where we try to produce more efficient management student,&rdquo; said Dahal. According to him, pre budget discussion programmes and monetary policy advisory preparation are some of the annual programmes done by the MAN. &ldquo;Most of our programmes are organized in association with international agencies,&rdquo; he said.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	One of the core activities of MAN is conducting different management trainings programmes for various levels, covering critical and emerging areas. It organizes around 100 training and workshop programmes, as required or requested.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Current activity</strong></span></div>
<div>
	This year, MAN is preparing to organizeManagement Development Scenario 2013 as part of its 33rd National Management Convention. Highlights of the programme include paper presentation on &lsquo;Political Management: A case of Nepal&rsquo;, presentation and discussion on &lsquo;Management Development Scenario&rsquo; and will announce recipients of &lsquo;Manager of the Year Award&rsquo; and &lsquo;Woman Manager Recognition Award&rsquo;.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>SWOT Analysis of MAN</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Strengths</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&bull;Expertise of members</div>
<div>
	&bull;Strong knowledge base</div>
<div>
	&bull;Good recognition in international level since it is affiliated to many organizations across the world</div>
<div>
	&bull;Has high level government as well as public enterprises executives as its members</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Weaknesses</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&bull;Unable to engage members from diverse sector</div>
<div>
	&bull;Majority of the members are government officials</div>
<div>
	&bull;Lack of sufficient products to sell</div>
<div>
	&bull;Knowledge as the only saleable product but unable to sell it to generate profits</div>
<div>
	&bull;Financially stable but not strong</div>
<div>
	&bull;Discontinuation of membership&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&bull;Members not able to give enough time to the Association</div>
<div>
	&bull;Insufficient infrastructure</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Opportunities</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&bull;Access and reach on both private and public sector</div>
<div>
	&bull;Growing demand for management research&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&bull;Growing popularity, though slowly, among public and private sector managers</div>
<div>
	&bull;Emergence of modern corporate sector</div>
<div>
	&bull;The organisation&rsquo;s college has a potential to start MPhil and PhD classes</div>
<div>
	&bull;Possibility to launch faculty development programmes related to management education</div>
<div>
	&bull;The Association can be developed as an authority on management issues for the country</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Threats</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&bull;Possible formation of organisations of similar nature</div>
<div>
	&bull;Emergence of competitors in research and educational services&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&bull;Perception as an organisation only for the government officials</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/man%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 604px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-02-09',
			'modified' => '2014-02-10',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Management Association of Nepal (MAN) was established in 1979 as the apex body of management professionals with active support of the corporate sector. As a national-level non-profit and non-partisan membership-based professional organization, MAN has been an important forum for developing management professionalism and for fostering a performance-oriented and socially responsible work culture in the country',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2528',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Generators: A Biz Thriving Under Loadshedding',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Madan Lamichhane</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The increase in load shedding hours and dip in temperature have created double whammy for generators market. In the past years, non-branded generators with low capacity were high on demand. But, now, people are inclined towards branded generators. Thus, the demand for branded generators is increasing day by day.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The generator market is on rise mainly because of the rise in the loadshedding hours. Prior to loadshedding, generators were used for backup only. But, due to current energy crisis, generators are being used as an alternative source of energy. The present Nepali market consists of four kinds of generators that run on deisel, petrol, gas and kerosene.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Branded Vs Non-Branded generators</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Previously, customers prefered non-branded generators due to its low cost. However, in the recent days, people are aware about the quality of the generators which is one of the main reason for the increasing demand for generators. According to Vishal Gadia, Executive Director of Morang Auto Works Engineering Pvt Ltd., increasing awareness among people about the &nbsp;lifespan of the generators, fuel consumption, servicing and facilities of branded generators has caused a decline in the sales of non-branded generators. However, the share of low capacity generators in the Nepali market in the non-branded segment is also significant. &nbsp;Gadia estimates the market share of the non-branded generators with a capacity between one to &nbsp;20 KVA to be around fifty per cent. However, in comparison to the fast few years, the use of such generators has been decreasing, he adds.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Even though branded generators require huge amount of investment, because of its quality it is highly demanded,&rdquo; says Nirmal Bogati, Director of Subha Kamal Global Business Hub Pvt Ltd.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In the recent years, generators have become compulsion in housing, departmental stores, offices and factories. Due to its increasing demand, there are varieties of generators available in the market from various brands of different capacities. However, in the past three years, the market of generator has remained stable because of its long lifespan. &ldquo;Generators are equipments that need not be bought time and again and thus the market is stable,&rdquo; says Bogati.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The market consists of different sized generators, ranging from portable generators to big heavy generators. &ldquo;Generators of different sizes are brought in the market depending on the customer&rsquo;s demand,&rdquo; says Bandhan Karki, Manager of Syakar Company Ltd. &nbsp;Syakar Company recently launched portable Honda generators. &ldquo;Such portable generators are useful for trekkers,&rdquo; adds Karki.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The increasing load shedding hours and the restriction on imports of inverters by the government has compelled the consumers to be dependent on generators. The Ministry of Energy had restricted imports of inverters in 2066 with the aim of decreasing loadshedding in Nepal.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Loadshedding directly affects the sales of low capacity generators. According to Gadia, the sale of generators with a capacity of 20 KVA is increasing because of long hours of loadshedding. If the loadshedding hours were less, &nbsp;consumers would have used lower capacity generators. This could decrease the sales of generators below 20 KVA capacity.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Market Competition</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&ldquo;The generators with 1 to 20 KVA capacity make up 75 per cent of the market share&rdquo;, says Gadia. In comparsion to big generators, small ones are demanded more because of their relatively low price. The market competition is based on the features of the generators. As such, the competition between companies is based on fuel consumption, operation cost, customer service, availability of spare parts and price of the generators. Consumers&rsquo; awareness about low quality generators has created competition based on service, incentives and quality. This has led to the downfall of the non-branded generators as consumers are being aware about their pitfalls.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Brands sold in Nepal</strong></span></div>
<div>
	There are one hundred generator distributors in Kathmandu alone. Some of the recognized generators in Nepal are- Honda, Yamaha, Kirloskar, Kohler, SDS and Greaves. 80 per cent of the branded generators are used in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Narayanghat while the remaining 20 per cent is used in other cities. &nbsp;As there is no basis to expect reduction in loadhshedding hours for the next 5 years, energy experts have said that generators are the best alternative to meet the energy crisis.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Types of generator engines</strong></span></div>
<div>
	There are basically two types of generators available in the market-water cooled engines and air cooled engines. Many entrepreneurs believe that water cooled generators are more effective in comparison to air cooled ones. Water cooled are relatively cheaper and have a longer life span.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In the recent times, the generators that are assembled in Nepal are gaining popularity. But, entrepreneurs suggest consumers to opt for branded generators because these come with warranty and other facilities. Similarly, the engines of branded generators are covered. These generators are safe to use and are sound proof. In India, generators lacking &lsquo;sound proof&rsquo; facility are banned.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Generators" src="/userfiles/images/fc1%20(Copy)(5).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 166px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Generators everywhere</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Though branded generators require huge amount of investment, customers&rsquo; preference for them &nbsp;have made them dominent in the market. Likewise, entrepreneurs believe that some of the latest Chinese generators available in the market are also good in terms of quality. Due to lack of domestic production of generators, many entrepreneurs have established themselves as authorized distributors of foreign branded generators.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Problems</strong></span></div>
<div>
	For the imports of small generators of 10 KVA capacity, 25 per cent custom duty has to be paid. But, for importing generators with more capacity, only 1 per cent custom duty has to be paid. This is creating a big problem for the entrepreneurs. Because of the increasing loadshedding hours generators are demanded in every sector now . So, the government has to reduce custom in small generators because they are high in demand. If done so many people can afford generators.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Things to be considered</strong></span></div>
<div>
	After every hundred hours of use, generators must be given for servicing. Generators, being a matter of one time investment, have to be used carefully. Generators have to be kept safely and out of reach of children. Similarly, their engine oil has to be checked time and again.</div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-01-27',
			'modified' => '2014-02-13',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'The increase in load shedding hours and dip in temperature have created double whammy for generators market. In the past years, non-branded generators with low capacity were high on demand. But, now, people are inclined towards branded generators. Thus, the demand for branded generators is increasing day by day.',
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	),
	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2478',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Rainbow Trout Business In Nepal',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Rashika Pokharel</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rainbow Trout fish farming is a profit generating business, which has a wide scope in the Nepali market. Rainbow Trout, one of the many species of trout fishes, is a freshwater fish of the salmon family. Rainbow Trout fish have layers of red, green and blue colours glinting from their scales and get their name from this particular quality. This fish grows in cold and fresh running water. Climatic conditions of Nepal are suitable for the farming of this fish and correspondingly many entrepreneurs have capitalized on this fact. Nepali fish lovers have admired delicacies of this fish while appreciating various health benefits it has.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The fish is not native to Nepali waters. For the first time, it was imported for cultivation from Japan in 1988. Due to favourable environmental condition, production of this fish flourished since then. Recently, private sector has introduced new technologies for producing and packaging it. In Nepal, it is generally perceived that fish farming is possible only in the Terai region of the nation. However, recent developments made in fish farming techniques, has caused a paradigm shift in this sector. Now, Rainbow Trout farming is possible in Hilly areas as well.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rainbow Trout farming was first started in Nuwakot. It has been able to bring considerable changes in economic status of the farmers. Even though the fish if produced in multiple places across the nation, the production has not been able to meet market demands. The fish is available in few department stores in Kathmandu. And sometimes consumers are found to be importing it as well. Comparatively the fish is costly than other species of fishes available in Nepali market. &ldquo;A kg of rainbow trout fish costs Rs. 1400,&rdquo; says Rajendra Khadka, owner of Budanilkantha Riverside Restaurant, that sells this fish by producing in its own facility inside the restaurant premises.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>The Healthiest Choice</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Rainbow trout is rich in protein which helps to lose weight and retain lean muscle mass. It contains Omega-3 fatty acid, which helps to reduce blood pressure and helps to overcome depression. This acid also reduces risks of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, high blood cholesterol and certain types of cancer. &nbsp;It contains minerals, iron, calcium, zinc and vitamins including- vitamin B complex and Vitamin D. Delicious and readily available in most grocery stores, Rainbow Trout is also low in sodium and calories.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rainbow trout has comparatively low-fat level and is low in cholesterol too, which makes it a good protein substitute for meats like beef, pork and lamb that contain significantly higher amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Production</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Rainbow trout production is expensive. Rs 20 million investment is required to produce 10 tons of Rainbow Trout and Rs 10 million is required to produce 5 tons. The Investment can be made on the basis of producer&rsquo;s need and financial capabilities. Like other business field, this field has its own bottlenecks and risk factors. &ldquo;Rainbow trout production is not easy. The sustenance of Rainbow Trout farming is difficult to manage both in terms of monetary and labour cost,&rdquo; says Khadka.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Farmers buy baby Rainbow Trout and rear them until they grow to a standard weight. According to Kapil Thapa, Manager at Nepal Rainbow Trout Farmers Association, the standard weight of a rainbow trout for selling is 200 gram. It takes a year for the baby trout to grow up and gain this weight.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rainbow trout farming can be done in any season. However, &ldquo;The most favourable season for its farming is from November to April,&rdquo; says Mahendra Ghorasini, Central Vice-president of Himalayan Trout Association. The suitable temperature for an adult Rainbow Trout to grow properly is 10-14 degree Celsius and 9-12 degree Celsius for the smaller one. &nbsp;This species of the fish require clean, cold and continuously flowing water to sustain and grow.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Rainbow Trout farming is done by a very few farmers because its production is expensive as well as difficult. &nbsp;A single rainbow trout farm setup requires continuous flowing water, a cemented pool and a large area. Though this fish is popular, the popularity is limited to a very few selected groups and is yet reach the mass market. Due to high cost, the popularity is limited to upper middle and high-class people who can afford high costs for seafood eateries. One of the many reasons for the failure of this product to establish in the mass market is the lack of seafood eating culture among general Nepalis, some of which also perceive that seafood eateries are beyond their household budget, Ghorasaini says. Failure to obtain large market for the product has incurred losses to some farmers as sometimes farmers cannot sell reared Rainbow Trout in time.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Another reason behind the declination of rainbow trout sales is the lack of advertisement. &ldquo;We are not getting platform to let people know about rainbow trout,&rdquo; says Thapa. In lack of a proper platform to advertise and reach the common mass of people, the farming has received substantial setbacks in supply its produces.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	One of the major reasons for the high cost of Rainbow Trout in the market is the cost of the food served to this fish. Food served to this fish costs between Rs 130 to Rs 225 per kg.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Adding to it lack of technological developments, proper equipment, and experts the production of the fish has been affected. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have latest technological equipment that can make substantial changes in producing the fish on large scale,&rdquo; Ghorasini said pointing out the reason behind small-scale production of the fish.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>The future</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Despite the seemingly disinterestedness among urban and rural Nepalis for seafood, trends are changing. With more and more restaurants booming in Kathmandu and other urban centres across the nation and with consumers becoming more concerned about hygienic and healthy food, Rainbow Trout delicacies are expected to gain more popularity in the days ahead. Even though the fish is costly, increasing income level of consumers and the health benefits attached to this fish will help in attracting more consumers to buy it. Therefore, they are ready to pay a higher price if the food is nutritious and beneficial.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Future of farmers and entrepreneurs involved in this sector can be secured through special initiatives of the government. The government should assist in conducting researches and providing remedies to the Rainbow Trout fisheries and assist in coordinating with international communities for in sourcing technological advances made in this field. Providing subsidies on the raw materials used by this industry would further help in bringing the market cost of the product and thereby increasing sales of the farmers and making this healthy product available to mass consumers.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Rainbow Trout Business in Nepal" src="/userfiles/images/fn1%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 206px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-01-20',
			'modified' => '2014-01-27',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Rainbow Trout fish farming is a profit generating business, which has a wide scope in the Nepali market. Rainbow Trout, one of the many species of trout fishes, is a freshwater fish of the salmon family. Rainbow Trout fish have layers of red, green and blue colours glinting from their scales and get their name from this particular quality. This fish grows in cold and fresh running water. Climatic conditions of Nepal are suitable for the farming of this fish and correspondingly many entrepreneurs have capitalized on this fact. Nepali fish lovers have admired delicacies of this fish while appreciating various health benefits it has.',
			'sortorder' => '2336',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2430',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Organic Farming Booming In Nepal',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Organic food is slowly getting bigger, both in terms of follower and producer, in Nepal. With the ever-increasing interest among urban Nepalis for organic food, various aspects of organic farming are also surging. Nepali are now more concerned about what they eat and how they are produced or prepared. Being aware of the fact that quality of the products consumed determines health condition, they are willing to pay for healthy food products. This is one of the major reason there is increasing demand for organic vegetables especially in urban areas. This is apparent when you see the growing number of restaurants in the Kathmandu serving dishes made only from Nepali organic food.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In the present context, population growth, coupled with the drop in food production, has led to the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and other high output technology to increase agro production. The inability of traditionally produced food to meet the day-to-day needs of the growing population has pushed farmers to adopt newer technologies and use chemicals in farming to increase production. However organic farming provides distinct benefits to its consumers and the environment. Despite other benefits that organic products have, Nepal has not been able to harness the potential of this sector besides few commercial crops that serve as examples of organic farming and organic products such as tea, coffee, honey, ginger, cardamom and medicinal herbs.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Steps being taken&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Organic agriculture sector is gaining momentum in Nepal. It possesses great scope for its competitiveness, as Nepal is home to many products, namely spices, essential oils and medicinal plants, fresh fruits and vegetables. &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The National Standard for organic agriculture has also been established and endorsed by the government, and working guidelines for two certification systems (Internal Control System and Participatory Guarantee System) are being developed, both of which will serve as an important instrument for taking advantage of the international and domestic markets. The latter is a certification scheme particularly for small farmers whose products are of high demand in the local market, but who cannot meet the high cost of certification.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<table align="center" width="100">
		<tbody>
			<tr>
				<td>
					<img alt="Farmers working in an organic farm." src="/userfiles/images/fc%20(Copy).jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 550px; height: 210px;" /></td>
			</tr>
			<tr>
				<td bgcolor="#DDDDDD">
					<div align="center">
						<div style="text-align: center;">
							<strong>The Organic Village Kathmandu&rsquo;s product range: Rice, lentils, jams, beans, honey along with different vegetables and fruits and dairy and meat products. Most of the products are grown in mountainous places like Jumla, Humla and Mustang. Some premium products of The Organic Village are Jumli Marsi Rice from Jumla (grown at 2500 m); Kalo Dal (black lentils) from Rasuwa (grown above 2000 m); red rice and yellow rice from Humla; frog meat (called &lsquo;paha&rsquo;). All together, The Organic Village gets its products from 33 districts of the country. It has recently begun exporting organic products of Nepal to the United Kingdom, the Unites States, South Africa and Qatar.</strong></div>
					</div>
				</td>
			</tr>
		</tbody>
	</table>
</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Organic Farms in Kathmandu</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Samir Newa, founder of The Organic Village in Baluwatar, Kathmandu and the pioneer of organic farming in the country said that the interest in organic food products, whether it is fresh apples or vegetables, among the medium-high class families is growing. However, he noted that some people consider organic lifestyle as &lsquo;fashionable&rsquo; rather than actually a way to promote healthy lifestyle.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;A majority of the people are still not aware of &lsquo;organic culture&rsquo; in Kathmandu itself,&rdquo; said Newa adding, &ldquo;Organic food is considered to be out of reach of the public as they are expensive and difficult to find.&rdquo; Similarly, a sample study conducted among 500 medium-class people in the Capital by Newa in 2011 claims that only 34 percent of the respondents had knowledge of organic farming and products. Of them,17 percent respondents partially used organic food products and only four percent completely used such products. &ldquo;The government has failed to come up with friendly policies and programmes to encourage organic farming that would protect public health from unwanted chemicals,&rdquo; Newa said.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The Organic Village was founded in 2003 with the aim of not only growing chemical free food, but also of creating public awareness about the benefits of organic food. The Organic Village is supported by development agencies like UNDP, Winrock International, GTZ, Micro Enterprise Development Program, Small Grants Program. According to Samir Newa, foods grown at high altitude contain less fat than those grown in warm regions.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Emphasis on organic agriculture at policy and programme level looks inadequate for its development and promotion. There is a virtual lack of government support to organic growers and marketers. It is necessary that marketability of any organic products, and that too at a premium price over the traditional and modern products has to be assured before starting the cultivation of organic crops. Mass production of organic products and the business volume for market sale are still invisible. Research work on processing and certification are weak and, in many cases, are missing.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Organic farming has its own shortcomings in Nepal. Poor technical skills and capacity in managing complex farm land problem, insufficient organic technology to support production, lack of research on processing and certification, poor investment capacity, small and fragmented land holding, and less risk bearing capacity among others are the key constraints at the producers&rsquo; level. Poor consumers&rsquo; awareness about organic products, quality and availability, lack of trust regarding the authenticity of the products, higher prices of organic products, impoverished market infrastructure are the constraints at marketers&rsquo; level.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Prospects and Possibilities &nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Organic farming holds out huge prospect in Nepalese context. Co-ordinated efforts among the actors are essential to boost it by meeting the challenges on the way to its development. Suresh Prasad Neupane, Member of Paurakhi Samudayik Krishi Sahakari said, &ldquo;Policy environment and clear long term vision and plan including research, extension, market development and commercialization of this sector are vital for the growth of this sector.&rdquo; Adding that organic industry is too small and has a long way to go in Nepal he said, &ldquo;Political commitments such as avoiding conflicting drive to maximize production, hammering proactive policy, initiating organic technology research, providing market incentives and institutionalization of Nepalese organic movement are imperative to further enhance organic sector in Nepal.&rdquo; &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<table align="center" width="100">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>
				<img alt="Farmers working in an organic farm." src="/userfiles/images/fc1%20(Copy)(4).jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 550px; height: 276px;" /></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td bgcolor="#DDDDDD">
				<div align="center">
					<div style="text-align: center;">
						<div>
							<strong>Farmers working in an organic farm.</strong></div>
					</div>
				</div>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>National level committees are formed for boosting organic farming in Nepal.</strong></span></div>
<div>
	<strong>&bull;<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>National Organic Agriculture Accreditation Body (NOAAB): It accredits and certifies organic products.</strong></div>
<div>
	<strong>&bull;<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>National Coordination Committee for Organic Agriculture Production and Processing System (NCCOAPPS): It helps in strengthening production and processing of organic agriculture.</strong></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-01-07',
			'modified' => '2014-01-20',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Organic food is slowly getting bigger, both in terms of follower and producer, in Nepal. With the ever-increasing interest among urban Nepalis for organic food, various aspects of organic farming are also surging. Nepali are now more concerned about what they eat and how they are produced or prepared. Being aware of the fact that quality of the products consumed determines health condition, they are willing to pay for healthy food products. This is one of the major reason there is increasing demand for organic vegetables especially in urban areas. This is apparent when you see the growing number of restaurants in the Kathmandu serving dishes made only from Nepali organic food.',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2382',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Bee-Keeping: A Source Of Employment Generation',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The value and importance of bees and honey have increased these days and beekeeping has became an entrepreneurial enterprise that has drawn many farmers towards it. Demand for honey has been increasing in Nepal and corresponding to it, its production is also rapidly increasing. Commercial beekeeping is becoming a reliable source of income-generation for some Nepali farmers.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;In the beginning of this business, one can earn Rs 5,000 per year. This income goes on increasing in the later years,&rdquo; said Raju Khatiwada, Proprieter of Namaste Mount Everest Honey Pvt Ltd. &nbsp;Khatiwada has been earning Rs 800,000 annually from 200 beehives. &ldquo;Initial cost of a hive is Rs 5,000 to 6,000. People may think this as low income, but as years pass by, the profit keeps increasing,&rdquo; Khatiwada added. Apart from buying beehives, which is a capital expenditure, other running expenditures are nominal and in the second year of the business, Khatiwada said that a profit of around Rs 15,000 could be gained.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	However, for commercial beekeeping, an entrepreneur needs to make initial investment of around Rs 400,000, according to Ganesh Basnet, President of Center of Nepal Bee-Keeping Cooperatives Association said. He explained, &ldquo;Commercial beekeeping should be started with at least 40 &ndash; 50 hives, as beehives have to be taken to different places for grazing and transportation expenses are the same whether you have 20 hives or 30 or 50.&rdquo; &rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Profit Generation</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Beekeeping business promises double profit to its entrepreneur within two years of starting the business. Nepal has favourable climate for bee keeping from Hilly to Terai region. Lately, commercial bee keeping is being done in the districts like Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Kaski, Palpa, Parbat, Kailali, Jumla, Sarlahi, Makwanpur, Jhapa, Sunsari, Morang, Surkhet, Kavre, Dang and Pyuthan. Bees are an important part of pollination. While they collect honey, they also play this important role of a pollinator that helps in the reproduction of plants and ultimately in maintaining ecological balance.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Estimates claim that Nepal has around 140,000 to 160,000 hives. Among them around 35,000 hives are Melifera and rest belong to the Serena species, according to Dharma Raj Shrestha, President of Center for Bee Keeping Association Nepal. Entrepreneurs claim that comparatively, Melifera breed is capable of producing more amount of honey in short span of time. Other honeybee species found in Nepal are Himalayan bee, Kathyauri and Ghar Mauri.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Demand Exceeding Production</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Honey entrepreneurs in Nepal have not been able to cater to the increasing demand of honey. Shrestha said Nepali market&rsquo;s annual demand for honey is around four million kg. But government statistics show that only 1.6 million kg of honey is being produced annually in Nepal. Cooperatives have been playing crucial role in the development of the honey industry. &ldquo;Around Rs 1.4 billion has already been invested in the bee keeping business conducted under cooperatives,&rdquo; Basnet said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The commercial bee keeping in Nepal started from 2051 B.S. with the initiation of late King Birendra following his visit to Europe. According to &nbsp;Basnet among total honey produced in Nepal almost half amount is contributed by cooperatives.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Demand for honey from educated families who understand the importance of honey is increasing,&rdquo; Basnet said adding that demand for honey from companies producing Ayurvedic medicines has also been increasing.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Lack of Laboratory&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal is rich in biodiversity, our bees feed on the nectar of flowers and fruits that are not available in many parts of the world but producers are finding it remarkably difficult to meet international standards. There is lack of proper laboratory for the verification of the quality of produced honey. Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) has been testing the quality of honey but honey verified by this department can&rsquo;t be exported in international market as its certificate is still not accepted by many importing countries, said the entrepreneurs.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	They said, &ldquo;The honey produced in Nepalis organic and its demand can highly increase in Nepal if the verification problem is sorted out.&rdquo; Shrestha said, &ldquo;Nepal government is not showing concern for promoting this business.&rdquo; He complains that various government institutions have been approving the distribution of honey without proper investigating its quality and adds that reasons like this have been rendering beekeeping business unsustainable.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Honey producers have realized that they have the potential of creating lucrative niche markets overseas through branding Nepali honey as &lsquo;organic honey&rsquo;, &lsquo;Himalayan honey&rsquo; and &lsquo;honey from the highlands&rsquo; but have been hindered in doing so due to existing set backs in the sector. Entrepreneurs claim beekeeping is yet to establish itself a commercial profession. Lack of proper technical knowledge in prospective beekeepers is another factor that has hindered the business from flourishing in Nepal. Inability to develop new species of honeybees and lack of a government regulatory body in the form of Honey Development Board, has been hindering the sector from flourishing. Presently the sector has been coordinated by cooperatives and establishment of a regulatory body is thought to be a crucial factor for giving it headway.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Though the government has introduced the &nbsp;policy of &lsquo;Bee-keeping for Livelihood&rsquo;, it is not enough for the commercial expansion of this business,&rdquo; Shrestha said.&ldquo;Commercial beekeeping can be conceptualized as prosperous business sector for the promotion and development of this sector,&rdquo; he added. He claimed that lack of proper policy facilitating commercial beekeeping has hindered honey exports to potential international market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="BeeKeeping" src="/userfiles/images/fck1%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 361px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Steps to be taken</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The most important initiative to establish the honey industry is to make beekeeping entrepreneurial. Though production capacity is steadily growing, there is a need for establishing a consulting mechanism and to prepare an action that would ensure that prospective beekeepers can easily access latest technology and resources for expanding their business.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Providing training on beekeeping and production of hives, tools and providing consultation services on the safety of bees, honey production, storage, processing would attract youths for getting involved in this sector and get self-employed.</div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2013-12-31',
			'modified' => '2014-01-20',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'The value and importance of bees and honey have increased these days and beekeeping has became an entrepreneurial enterprise that has drawn many farmers towards it. Demand for honey has been increasing in Nepal and corresponding to it, its production is also rapidly increasing. Commercial beekeeping is becoming a reliable source of income-generation for some Nepali farmers.',
			'sortorder' => '2226',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
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			'main_news' => false,
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			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2342',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Elegant Interiors In Demand',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	For years, the beauty of Nepali homes remained only skin deep. Urban Nepalis beautified the exteriors of their houses, but neglected the interiors. Today&rsquo;s middle-class Nepalis, however, are not only paying greater attention to interiors but demanding simple, smart decor that is durable and easy to maintain. At the start of the new millennium, bright coloured walls and long curtains became popular and turned into immediate status symbols.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	House owners are attracted towards simple yet elegant designs rather than showy, colourful ones. &ldquo;People no longer want furniture and flooring that their friends or colleagues have. They want something unique, yet minimal and are willing to pay for it,&rdquo; says Arpana Baral of The Interiors. &ldquo;Simplicity and elegance are what people believe in and go for it nowadays.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Gone are the days, when construction of a home was solely considered as a great achievement by an urban Nepali. Interior decoration of the house has become a higher priority in recent years. It is believed that a house with perfect interior design can trigger positive vibes among the family members and can also create good impression on the guests.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Interior decoration is no more considered a luxury nowadays. It has become a necessity of urban life,&rdquo; said Sanu Raja Silpakar, President of Interior Designers Association of Nepal. He further added, &ldquo;Change in people&rsquo;s lifestyle, construction of attractive apartments and increasing economic activities have helped in the professional expansion of the interior design sector.&rdquo; He claims that almost 75 per cent of Kathmandu house owners buy furniture after completing interior design of their houses.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Academic Courses on Interior Designing</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The growing number of housing and apartment projects have supported the growth of professionals in this sector. Demand for professional interior designers in this field has increased the number of institutes that offer courses on interior designing in the valley. More than a dozen educational institutions including Shahi Design Academy, Kantipur International College, IEC School of Art and Fashion, International Institute of Fashion Design, are providing interior designing classes.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/fcs1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 483px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Rise in Sales</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Improved Internet access and increased financial standing for travelling has provided Nepali youngsters with easy access to designs from all over the world. They use the Internet to search various interior designs for their homes and due to this homework, they know exactly what they want. High-end furniture like the leather sofas, waterproof furniture for outdoors, and walk in closets are particularly popular among this age-group and the premium price tag does not seem to discourage them.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	With rising purchasing power and more sophisticated tastes, interior decor is no longer about practicality for most middle-class Nepalis. Along with employment opportunities in this sector, demand for raw material for interior designing has also increased to a great extent. Nepal Furniture and Furnishing Association&rsquo;s (NFFA) records show that furniture and furnishing material of around Rs 7-8 billion is used annually in Nepal. &nbsp;Krishna Lal Pradhan, NFFA President said, &ldquo;Of it Rs 4 billion is consumed only by flooring and furnishing materials.&rdquo; He said that increased interest in interior deigning, has directly contributed to the 15 per cent annual growth of this sector. Pradhan assumes, &ldquo;If the interest level of customer towards this sector retains its intensity, furniture and flooring business will double soon.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Raw Material</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal imports flooring materials from Germany, Canada, Belgium, India, and China. Major countries from where furnishing materials are imported are the Netherlands and Switzerland. &nbsp;Nepal itself also has some facilities that produce furnishing related products.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Traders say that the sales of these materials are largely in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Hundreds of boutique furniture outlets also have mushroomed across the Valley providing clients with numerous choices to choose from local, imported, contemporary, and antique furniture and furnishing goods. Most showrooms have mock ups, or model structures like the one above to simplify decision-making for the consumers. If buyers still feel lost, in-house interior designers work out and come up with customised plans that suit their budget and space.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Increasing Employment</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The increasing construction of apartments, increment in economic transaction and change in the trends of life have increased the employment opportunities in the interior designing sector. According to the statistics of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, around 40,000 new houses are being constructed annually. Similarly, the trend of construction of house outside the valley is also increasing rapidly. The construction of offices, departmental stores, apartments, and housing has helped in expansion of this business.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In order to attract customers, sanitary ware, furniture, and paint companies hire interior designing professionals to provide interior designing service. This has broadened the employment scope for interior designers. Along with competition, the earning in this sector is also increasing.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/fcs2%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 486px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Attraction of people</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Hectic modern life schedule leaves many Nepalis with lesser time or energy to take care of their homes. As a result, bulky wooden furniture that take weeks to make and assemble are being replaced by easy to assemble and dismantle, light-weight furniture. And despite their higher costs, people are opting for parquet flooring instead of rugs and carpets considering the strenuous maintenance efforts the latter need to upkeep.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	House owners and residents are inclined towards decorating and managing small places and making them attractive, comfortable and cozy. Professionals with busy schedule, are attracted towards services of this sector for their office space and home space.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Though employment opportunities in this sector are increasing, uniformity in this subject&rsquo;s education system has not been seen yet. CTEVT and Tribhuwan University have not prepared any curriculum on this subject. Institutions that provide courses on the subject have self-styled syllabus. This has led to the production of manpower with different potentiality and standards in this sector. This has created problems for skilled manpower to get employed easily.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Similarly, a commonly held notion that interior designing is costly has hindered many aspirants to join the field. Lack of government initiative to create employment opportunities for professionals of this sector is another setback.</div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2013-12-24',
			'modified' => '2013-12-31',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'For years, the beauty of Nepali homes remained only skin deep. Urban Nepalis beautified the exteriors of their houses, but neglected the interiors. Today’s middle-class Nepalis, however, are not only paying greater attention to interiors but demanding simple, smart decor that is durable and easy to maintain. At the start of the new millennium, bright coloured walls and long curtains became popular and turned into immediate status symbols.',
			'sortorder' => '2185',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2293',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Domestic Footwear Brands Dominate Market',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Nepali footwear products have been dominating the domestic market in the recent years. While the consumers have shown interest in using international brand designer shoes, their interest is growing also in made-in-Nepal. Manufacturers claim that locally made shoes account for more than 50 percent of the sales.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	A corresponding growth has been seen in footwear factories too. There are presently around 10 medium-scale footwear factories across the country. Nepali customers are gradually getting attracted towards shoes produced in Nepal for design, and durability of the shoes.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;There has been a healthy growth in the number of &nbsp;buyers for locally manufactured footwear,&rdquo; Ram Krishna Prashain, said Managing Director of Shikhar Shoes, one of the prominent names in the domestic footwear market,. &ldquo;This has been possible due to adaptation of advanced manufacturing technologies, delivery of quality products and keeping up with the expectation of customers,&rdquo; he added. &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Present Status of the Market</strong></span></div>
<div>
	According to Prashain, the domestic market is witnessing a change in the buying pattern of customers. &ldquo;Slowly and steadily, we are seeing more and more people who used to prefer branded products from foreign countries coming to us. And once they use our products, they become regular customers,&rdquo; said Prashain. He added that the company is planning to roll out a new premium brand targeting high-end customers in the near future. &ldquo;Currently, we are carrying out a feasibility study. If we get positive results, we will install a new plant,&rdquo; he said. Products from Shikhar Shoes are priced between &nbsp;Rs 350 andRs 4,000.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Base Footwear, manufacturer of &lsquo;BF dear hill&rsquo; brand of footwear and another prominent player in the domestic market, has also been witnessing enormous success. &ldquo;Almost all the multi-branded footwear stores across the country now feature products from at least one of the domestic brands,&rdquo; said Hom Nath Upadhyay, Managing Director of Base Footwear. He added that the company&rsquo;s annual production comes to 150,000-200,000 pairs. Its products are priced in the range of Rs 450 - Rs 3,500. Base Footwear products range from school and college shoes to party shoes, casual shoes and sports shoes. The company has recently started manufacturing football boots also.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	When asked about the raw material, Upadhyay informs that polyvinyl chloride, and thermoylae rubbers around 80 per cent of Nepal&rsquo;s leather requirement is fulfilled by imports from Thailand, China and India, while 20 per cent is produced in Nepal itself. The other major raw material such as polyurifine, polyvinyl chloride, and thermopoly rubbers too are imported. Upadhyay said that domestic products presently occupy 55 per cent of the Nepali leather goods and footwear market. He is optimistic that the domestic brands will occupy more share of the market in the days ahead as demand for these products continues to surge due to comparatively affordable prices than imported products while the quality of the domestic products is comparable with the imported ones. In fact, while the leather used in the Nepal-made shoes is genuine, the imported shoes may be using imitate on leather which is difficult for the ordinary people to identify. He said, &ldquo;In terms of price, our competition is with those imports that use fake international brand names.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	People usually buy the Chinese-made &ldquo;international brands&rdquo; which are not as good as the authentic brands. They bear the logos of popular international brands, but they are counterfeit products. Claiming that the domestic footwear manufacturers are offering better affordability, better quality and better designs than the Chinese imitations, Upadhyay encourages consumers to buy domestic products instead of running behind so called branded and designers&rsquo; products. He said, &ldquo;People have to understand that they can have Nepali genuine products for the same price that they pay for those fake products.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The domestic footwear makers has started manufacturing sports and casual shoes as well while till recently they were producing mainly for school children. Manufacturers say that increasing buyer confidence had inspired them to try their hand at new products. &ldquo;We are now planning to expand the product line-up in the casual and sports series,&rdquo; said Prashain. &ldquo;We are about to install a new plant to manufacture ladies footwear. We are in the final stages of our preparation to produce rubber boots.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Imported Raw Materials</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Eighty percent of the raw material is imported. And 40 per cent of it comes from China, 30 per cent from India and the remaining from other nations. At present, Nepal produces only 20 per cent of the raw material the industry needs.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	According to a survey conducted by Leather Footwear and Goods Manufacturers&rsquo; Association Nepal (LFGMAN) an average single Nepali spends Rs 2500 annually on shoes. Hom Nath Upadhyay, also the President of LFGMAN said, &ldquo;That means, when you think about the entire population, the annual spending of Nepali population on shoes is huge. If Nepali products are promoted, we can prevent that money from going outside the country.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;&ldquo;We are looking forward to be self-dependent in leather goods and footwear. If we can achieve that, it will be very helpful to the economy. Besides, this will create more employment opportunities in Nepal itself,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/fc1%20(Copy)(2).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 318px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems &amp; Challenges&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Despite having deeper penetration in the domestic footwear market, Nepali shoe manufacturers claim that they could do even better if their concerns are addressed properly. Unfair customs duty on raw materials and unavailability of skilled manpower are their major concerns, which if addressed by the government, they say, could enable them to outshine foreign products in the domestic market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Upadhyay said that shortage of skilled and efficient manpower has been the major problem in this sector.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Energy crisis is another challenge for us. We don&rsquo;t have local industries that produce raw material for our industry. Even in case of imported raw material, we do not have sufficient supply,&rdquo; &nbsp; he said. Moreover, &nbsp;some of these raw material are heavily taxed making the final products expensive.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Elaborating further on their concerns, he said undeterred huge import of Chinese counterfeit products is another major problem. &ldquo;If such import is discouraged, Nepali brands will have a better market,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Sharing his experience of retaining the market, he said &ldquo;We have to look for new designs and trends continuously. Shoes go out of fashion very soon and we have to tap trending designs to retain our customers. This includes updating our manufacturing technology and marketing patterns. We just have to be moving, and we cannot rest. This makes it a tough job,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Stressing on the role of government for the promotion of the footwear market in Nepal, Upadhyay said, &ldquo;The government should give more priority to this sector and create favourable environment for it. This sector makes use of Nepali skill and labour. There is no foreign investment here, so we can say we are a true Nepali business sector.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;People should show their love to domestic products by giving them a try. We need more support and feedback from our customers to serve them better products in the days to come.&rdquo;</div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2013-12-17',
			'modified' => '2013-12-23',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Nepali footwear products have been dominating the domestic market in the recent years. While the consumers have shown interest in using international brand designer shoes, their interest is growing also in made-in-Nepal. Manufacturers claim that locally made shoes account for more than 50 percent of the sales.',
			'sortorder' => '2154',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
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	),
	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2252',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Sanitary Ware Business Generating Employment',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	While families spend huge part of their income to furnish and decorate bedrooms and living rooms, bathrooms were usually an afterthought, tucked away in a dark aloof corner of the house. Urban Nepali have been realizing the importance of hygienic and airy bathrooms. People have started prioritizing bathroom locations and installing modern hygienic bathroom accessories. This trend has increased sanitary ware business in Nepal especially in urban areas.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Bathrooms reflect an owner&rsquo;s lifestyle. Having a luxurious, professionally designed living room can&rsquo;t create a good impression if your guest can follow his/her nose to the bathroom. &ldquo;Architects and home-owners are slowly beginning to give priority to bathrooms,&rdquo; Yogendra Bajracharya of Nepal Marble Bath House, which has been in sanitary ware business for the last 16 years, said. He adds, &ldquo;Urban Nepali are becoming increasingly conscious about design and use of space and are even willing to spend big bucks.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Variety of Stores in the Market</strong></span></div>
<div>
	With the awareness about hygienic bathrooms raising in the people, sanitary ware stores are also mushrooming in the market. Sanitary wares business is booming and some of these stores are making good profit.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Home Furnishers Pvt Ltd at Tripureshwor has all kind of branded fixtures and fittings products such as commode, wash basin, faucets, bathroom accessories, shower curtains and curtain rods, bathtubs, wall and floor tiles, electric water heaters and many more. The company imports brands like Mogen, Hansa, Ridder, Kaldewi, Justime, Navarti, Ariston and Dia Safe from Thailand, Germany, Taiwan, Spain, Italy and Korea respectively.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rajendra Shrestha, Manager Director of the company informed that sales increased by 20 per cent as compared to same period of last year. Targeted at high-end and middle high class customers, Home Furnishers provides warranty of 10 to 30 years. Corresponding to higher cost prices of the product, he says the high cost is justified by quality of the product.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Somany &mdash; an Indian brand for faucets, sanitary wares and tiles offers economic and luxurious range of products. Tiles are their most popular product in their portfolio and are sold mostly in September, Samish Maskey, director &nbsp;of Somany Studio at Koteshworsaid. Faucets, commodes, wash basin, Jacuzzi, among others are available at the store. The company provides 10 years of warranty on every product. Maskey informed that the company regularly updates their product range to ensure that their customers get to choose from the trendiest designs in the market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Bajra and Bajracharya Enterprises (BBE) at Lagankhel trades in a variety range of products of Kohler, Leno, Porcelanosa, CRW, Nova, Halcon, Kludi, Yojo and others in fixtures and fittings. Anuj Maskey, marketing officer at BBE, says that they have a wide range of products that can suit the needs of people from all walks of life. The merchandises at the store are imported from India, China, US, Germany and Spain.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	With a diverse range of innovative products, clients don&rsquo;t have to compromise on design and even smaller bathrooms can be cleverly utilised. &ldquo;Products like shower enclosures have revolutionised bathing and added elegance to bathrooms,&rdquo; Rajesh Budhiya of Rukmani International, said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Slippery tiles and sharp edges make bathrooms accident-prone spaces, especially for the elderly. Now new designs can be incorporated to improve safety. &ldquo;Coarse bathroom tiles made of non-glazed ceramics can be used to minimise slipperiness of bathroom tiles,&rdquo; Birbal Dugar of Dugar Iron and Steels, explained. &ldquo;We offer innovative taps which automatically set the water temperature below 400 degree Celcius,&rdquo; Budhiya added.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Hygienic and easy&ndash;to-clean facilities are also widely available. &ldquo;Rust proof PVC pipes which donot allow bacteria to breed inside their inner surfaces are very popular these days,&rdquo; BijayaRai of Mangalam industries, says.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Price of Sanitary ware</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Sanitary ware stores in the capital offer an extensive range of products in contemporary designs with high safety features, catering to the demands of urban homes. While durability is still the most important factor, store owners say customers now think about aesthetics as well. &ldquo;Most of our customers&rsquo; still look for the mid ranged sanitary products and prefer durability over style,&rdquo; Sanjay Kedia of Rajesh Sanitary Ware said. However there is gradual rise in the demand for high end goods like Jacuzzis, steam cabin and shower enclosures.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The product range of sanitary wares varies from company to company according to quality and preferences of the customers. Sanitary stores in Kathmandu mostly target high and middle class people as their customers.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The price of sanitary wares at Home Furnishers Pvt Ltd ranges from Rs 23,500 to Rs 85,000, while faucets are priced at Rs 12,700 to Rs 53,000. Their anti-bacteria and machine washable shower curtains and curtain rods from Ridder brands are priced between Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,700. The steel ceramic enamel bathtub cost between Rs 35,000 to Rs 38,000.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The faucets at Somany Studio are priced between Rs 2,000 to Rs 60,000 while commodes are cost Rs 8,000 to Rs 150,000. The price of wash basins available at the store range from Rs 2,100 up to Rs 50,000 while that of Jacuzzi range from Rs 165,000 to Rs 250,000.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/fc1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 239px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></strong></span></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Employment Generation</strong></span></div>
<div>
	With the surge in construction of modern buildings, employment opportunities related to sanitary wares have been also increasing. According to the statistics of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), around 40,000 houses are being constructed in Kathmandu valley annually. Similarly, construction of houses task outside valley has also been increasing in same pace. This has been contributing to employment and income generation activities in this sector.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Indrakumar Nakarmi, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation officer at Skill Nepal, said that the internal re-structuring of houses also have supported to the growth of this business. &ldquo;An old-design house consisted only of a single bathroom but modern-design houses these days have bathroom in each flat and some even have bathroom attached to bedroom,&rdquo; he added. This has also contributed to the increase in employment generation activities.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Increasing Sales</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The real estate business had slowed down some years earlier due to various reasons. But it is recovering gradually nowdays. A corresponding effect of this business is also seen in sanitary ware business. Komal Mainali, Managing Director of Business Concerns Pvt Ltd, said that the sales of sanitary ware products have increased at the rate of 10 to 12 per cent annually in last few years.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Nepal&rsquo;s sanitary ware industry relies heavily on imports from China, India, Spain and Italy. While custom duty on bathroom installations is low, duty on tiles can reach up to 70 per cent.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Lack of awareness of the people outside the valley has been hindering expansion of the business outside valley, traders in the niche say. Along with that it has been hard for any brand to maintain its reputation in the market due to the unequal and unhealthy competition primarily triggered due to the mushrooming of sanitary ware companies in the market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rajendra Shrestha, Managing Director of Home Furnishers, says, &ldquo;Political instability, weak economy, stagnancy in real estate industry and decreasing purchasing power of the customers are factors affecting the sanitary ware business.&rdquo;However, traders are still doing good business due to apartment and hotel construction. Renovation of older houses that look for accommodating better furnished modern bathrooms is another major factor that keeps the trading graph up the hill.</div>',
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			'description' => 'While families spend huge part of their income to furnish and decorate bedrooms and living rooms, bathrooms were usually an afterthought, tucked away in a dark aloof corner of the house. Urban Nepali have been realizing the importance of hygienic and airy bathrooms.',
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			'id' => '2211',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Furniture From Abroad Abounds',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	W<span style="font-size: 12px;">ith changing lifestyle and higher spending ability, demand for finest furniture, that make social statement, is growing in Nepal among city dwellers. Certain segment of urban dwellers, are increasingly getting interested in designer furniture for interior decoration of their house. As designer furniture is becoming synonymous to status statement, higher standards and better comfort is sought. This has led to the rise in import of international designer furniture brands.&nbsp;</span></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;&ldquo;Nepali market is gradually moving towards imported furniture as they are cheaper by almost 50 per cent in comparison to local wood furniture. Affordable pricing, attractive looks and suitability for interior design and adjustable fittings are reasons of growing preference for imported furniture,&rdquo; Surendra Kumar Sharda, Senior Vice-President of Nepal Furniture and Furnishing Association (NFFA), said while elaborating current trend in the sector. &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Though demand for designer furniture is increasing, a lack of investment in producing such furnitures within the nation is seen. &ldquo;Accepting the fact that furniture industry is moving towards greater dependency on import in the last five years, industrialists are not interested in taking risk by investing and establishing manufacturing units. For them imported readymade furniture trading is an easy and secured means of doing business,&rdquo; Sharda said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Customer Preferences</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Demand for imported furniture in the Kathmandu valley has been rising significantly with consumers getting more conscious about creating a unique look for their homes. The shift in preference can be measured by the fact that more than four dozen furniture stores dealing in imported products have been trading in the valley.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Furniture stores which started with a limited product range now are expanding their entire stock ranging from office furniture, to kid&rsquo;s special furniture along with sofa sets, TV cabinets and bedroom sets, to name a few. Apart from wood, modern furniture use various materials like steel, plastic, tubular steel, leather straps, laminates, glasses, molded plywood and synthetic wood to give a stylish finish and light weight.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Both local and Chinese furniture, have their own separate markets with their individual advantages and disadvantages. Locally made furniture is preferred for its durability and quality of wood. But when it comes to design, decorative options, purpose-fulfillment and affordability the market swings to Chinese furniture.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Responding to varied backgrounds and demands of customers, some furniture traders trade domestic and imported furniture. Their catch remains to retain customers by catering to their specific demands. Suresh Shrestha, Managing Director of Bira Furniture, informs that they include both local as well as imported furniture in their showroom, to fulfill demands of the varied customers.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Variety in Furniture</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Furniture stores across the nation today offer variety in furniture depending on custom needs, demands and pocket. With an assorted variety of designer furniture available at various price range, they are making difference when designing a house. No matter how low the budget is, these furniture still provide an unique and stylish look.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Various factors including availability of numerous designs and superior finishing has helped in raising demand for imported furniture,&rdquo; Shrestha said. Apart from this, competitive prices have played a crucial role in increasing sales of imported furniture, he added. &nbsp; &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Demand for local furniture seems a little down since the last two years. Possible factors contributing in it are lower growth in land transactions and real estate development, gradual influx and growing popularity of Chinese furniture in the market,&rdquo; Gobinda Timilsina, a Sales Representative at Varieties Traders, Kumaripati, said. &ldquo;The government is not sensitive towards the problem faced by the furniture industry. Despite huge scope, lack of everything is hitting the domestic furniture industry.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Domestic Furniture&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepali furniture industry uses saal, sisau, utis, and mango wood for the production of furniture. Other raw materials are imported from India, China and Malaysia. Size, quality and design determine the price. There are different varieties of furniture available in the market from sofas and beds to designate cupboards and office tables. The price range of local made sofa set starts from Rs 8,000 to Rs 46,000; cupboard starts from Rs 9,000. Prices differ depending upon length, height and style.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Traders said that the country&rsquo;s furniture market is worth around Rs 1 billion annually and that the industry is growing by around 25 percent. Most of the imported furniture available in the market comes from China. Traders said that Chinese furniture accounts for more than 80 percent of the imported furniture market. Furniture from places like India, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia too are popular in the domestic market. As for premium products, most are imported from Europe.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Imported Products&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Around 60 per cent of the furniture and furnishing products available in Nepal are imported. The imported goods include flooring, furnishing (except carpets), furniture and d&eacute;cor items. &ldquo;While imports have swelled over the years, domestic production is declining consistently,&rdquo; Kabindra Joshi, General Secretary of NFFA, said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	While overpopulation, triggered due to excessive migration of people to different urban centres in Nepal, has resulted in increased demand for furniture, domestic manufacturers have not been able to meet it. &ldquo;Decline in domestic production has not stopped people from buying furniture and hence, traders are increasingly depending on imported products to meet the market demand,&rdquo; Joshi added.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Manufacturers allege that lack of skilled craftsmen, power cuts, non-availability of raw materials and absence of a favourable government policy are major reasons for the decline of domestic production. They stress on the need of a proper government mechanism to boost domestic furniture industry while pointing to nation&rsquo;s volatile political environment as a crucial factor contributing to decline in their business.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Lack of qualified labour and skilled manpower is another reason why the industry is diminishing here in Nepal. Traders said that the trend of youth going abroad has created labour scarcity. If the gap is not filled sooner, this will result in bigger problems.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Similarly, lack of big factories which can produce furniture on large scaled and compete with products imported from China and other nations, in terms of production, price, and design has diminished market for domestic products. &ldquo;We are manufacturing in small quantities using traditional methods and that is not really sufficient to survive the competition,&rdquo; Sharda said. He feels that domestic furniture manufacturing industry needs technological improvement to survive the competition.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Like other industries, this industry also has been hit power shortage. &ldquo;We are also suffering from long hours of power cut. Power cut has hindered us to supply products on stipulated time. This has been a great set back for our business,&rdquo; Shrestha complained.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Mushrooming furniture trading shops and cut throat competition are a threat to the business.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Future Prospects</strong></span></div>
<div>
	An investment of Rs 20 billion has already been made in the domestic furniture and furnishing industry, Joshi said while informing that they &ldquo;are working on a strategy to approach the government and acquire its attention towards the welfare of the industry.&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Apart from the cultural and historical significances, traditional furniture industry can also be a considerable boost to the economy of the country, if it is runs smoothly. Joshi said that the domestic manufacturers, if encouraged and treated properly, have the potential to export, while fulfilling local demand.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;The furniture and furnishing industry can look for better days ahead as its products have positioned themselves as &nbsp;people&rsquo;s necessities rather than luxury,&rdquo; claimed Joshi. He said that housing and real estate, residences, office complexes, hotels and restaurants, schools and colleges and development projects are booming market for the furniture and furnishing industry.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Focus News" src="/userfiles/images/fcs%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 418px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>',
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			'description' => 'With changing lifestyle and higher spending ability, demand for finest furniture, that make social statement, is growing in Nepal among city dwellers. Certain segment of urban dwellers, are increasingly getting interested in designer furniture for interior decoration of their house.',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2728',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Nepali RMG Waiting For Its Revival',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Since quota phase out Nepali readymade garment (RMG) industry has observed numerous ups and down along with huge challenges but the government is yet to show serious concern for its revival. During the industry&rsquo;s heyday, the sector alone used to export RMG products worth more than Rs 12 billion but recent statistics do not show any distinct progress.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	According to the garment exporters, the industry is yet to see the light of day. Though there are queries for export orders and production but it&rsquo;s far below the satisfactory level. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s true that the industry is receiving queries from the international market mainly from the European Union but the queries and export orders are yet not satisfactory,&rdquo; Ashok Kumar Agrawal, general secretary at the Garment Association - Nepal (GAN) said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Full implementation of Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on January 2005 ended 40 years of quota based trade of textiles and garment. The expiry of the quota system has not only resulted in the drastic decline of the Nepali RMG export but has also led to the closure of manufacturing units.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Though quota phase out has affected our industry but we are still waiting for the government to lobby for the Generalised System of Preference (GSP) in the United States which used to be the top garment importer of our country,&rdquo; said Agrawal. According to him, though the GSP facility is available in EU, the quantity of order still remains low. &ldquo;We need the government support and special programmes for the revival of the industry,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Another major reason for this critical situation of the garment industry is insufficient commitment at the industry and policy making levels for responding to foreseen adjustment problems in trade without quota. &ldquo;We are committed towards capacity building and policy innovation for responding to the changed scenario through active coordination between private sector and the government&rdquo;, Agrawal said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	At present garment manufacturers are receiving orders for traditional readymade garments such as traditional stitching, designs and handmade embroidery. In midst of other troubles, the industry is also running sort of sufficient skilled labour force. &nbsp;Though comparative statistics of the Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC) show an increment of around 50 per cent in total garment exports in the past six months&rsquo;, exporters allude this increase to the spike in dollar exchange rates during the period. Total export of Nepali garment in 2012-13 was worth Rs 1.811 billion, which increased by 50.4 per cent with a total export of Rs 2.72 billion during the first six months of the current fiscal year, states the TEPC statistics.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong><img alt="Export of Garment" src="/userfiles/images/f3%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; width: 200px; height: 314px;" />Present Scenario of Nepali Garment Industry&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Exporters looking forward for revising GSP facility to the US</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The US GSP programme for Nepal expired on July 31, 2013, which has further hit the declining export of Nepali RMG to its top buyer: United States. However the garment exporters are hopeful that the government will take initiatives to revise the GSP facility. During the first meeting of Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) in the US, Nepal had raised the issue of GSP facilitation for garments. Nepali entrepreneurs had also underlined the need to revise GSP during the first joint council meeting of Nepal and US to clear trade hurdles.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Proper cash incentive scheme can create new opportunities</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The government has only fixed one per cent cash incentive for readymade garments. Earlier, it used to provide two to three per cent cash incentive. This amendment failed to encourage the overall export sector. Garment exporters, find this incentive scheme unjustified and call for revising it.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>The garment industrialist waiting for the inclusion of Nepali Garment in the NTIS revised priority list</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Failure to increase the export figures and lack of new markets for products in the NTIS priority list has raised concerns among the exporters about the advantage of being listed in the priority list. According to the exporters the government should have included readymade garments along with woodcraft and stone craft in the NTIS priority products. Garments, carpets, pashmina and handicraft products were defined as special focus area for export promotion. Despite having a large share in the total exportable products of the country and despite being recognized as product with comparative advantage by the Nepal Trade and Competitiveness study, readymade garments still remains out of the NTIS priority products list.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Search for new destination&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepali readymade garment has plans to explore Australian market as its new export destination. According to GAN, Australia already has been importing large quantity of readymade garments from India, Bangladesh and Srilanka and it can be a good opportunity for the country if the Australian market could be researched. In the past single market concentration has hurt the Nepali readymade garment sector and this fact has necessitated the diversification of market for its products.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Nepali Garments" src="/userfiles/images/f1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 362px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>',
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			'created' => '2014-03-10',
			'modified' => '2014-03-10',
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			'description' => 'During the industry’s heyday, the sector alone used to export RMG products worth more than Rs 12 billion but recent statistics do not show any distinct progress.',
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			'id' => '2712',
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			'title' => 'Silver Lining On Silver Jewellery',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>History of Silver jewellery</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal has a long tradition of craftsmanship in many forms like wood carving, metal craft, stone carving and, working silver and gold into exquisite pieces of jewellery. The manufacture of jewellery in Nepal is wide spread throughout the country since time immemorial. The production of jewellery is labour intensive industry that was based on caste and cultural heritage. It was traditionally confined only to the Newari Shakya and Sunar families, but nowadays, other castes are also equally involved in this occupation. The local demand of jewellery has traditionally confined to social and religious occasions and other ritual ceremonies. The arrival of foreign tourist has led to the mingling of the traditional heritage with modern foreign market taste. The filigree cuttings have made Nepali silver jewelleries peerless. The handmade production process has made it possible to spread over rural areas benefiting the rural mass.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Present scenario</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Once the poor second cousin of gold, silver jewellery has become a cool, contemporary style icon in its own right. &ldquo;The skyrocketing price of the yellow metal people from various walks of life are getting more attracted to the cheaper yet stylish silver jewelleries,&rdquo; said former president of Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers&rsquo; Association Tej Ratna Shakya. According to him, on an average around 100-150 kilos of silver is traded daily in the local market. Apart from the jewellery, the silver utensils are also on high demand due to the influence of Indian culture,&rdquo; Shakya said. He also added that the trading of silver products is increasing remarkably in the local market and the situation is improving in the international market too. Silver is used mainly in household and industrial purpose. However the trend of silver jewellery is also catching among youths here who are more attracted to silver bracelets, rings, earrings, bangles and pendants as their fashion statements.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<table align="center" width="100">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>
				<img alt="Customers purchasing silver ornaments at Silver Palace, New Road." src="/userfiles/images/f.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 550px; height: 374px;" /></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td bgcolor="#DDDDDD">
				<div align="center">
					<div style="text-align: center;">
						<strong>Customers purchasing silver ornaments at Silver Palace, New Road.</strong></div>
					<div style="text-align: right;">
						<em>Photos: Rukesh Shrestha/TC</em></div>
				</div>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>International Market Trend</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Following the laboratory certification system for the silver articles, the export of silver article is gradually moving ahead in the international market. &ldquo;Now we do not have problems while exporting silver products in the European market which is the major buyer of the product,&rdquo; said Shakya. However the government must actively look for upgrading the existing certification method. Nepali Silver Jewellery is one of the major overseas export products next to other handicraft products of the country. The number of the export markets of this product has crossed 30 out of which, USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Japan, France, Italy and Australia are the&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	leading ones.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Now Certified&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Introduction of quality testing certification for Nepali silver jewellery has averted possible ban for the products in European market on charges of having traces of restricted chemical &lsquo;Cadmium&rsquo; in them. The certification system that tests any silver product for this chemical and certifies it as quality product of the country has once again brought charm to silver products in the local and the international market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;The export of silver jewellery that was about to get ban in the European country has finally received a relief as now we have a proper certification system, which certifies the purity of the product,&rdquo; said Shakya. Earlier the European Union was mulling on banning the import of Nepali silver jewellery if the exporters failed to certify that the products were free of cadmium. Cadmium is a known carcinogenic substance and various studies have concluded that it is toxic. Long-term contact of it can cause kidney and bone damage. According to the silver exporters now only 0.01 per cent cadmium is allowed in the exportable silver products.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="NTIS" src="/userfiles/images/F1.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 300px; height: 525px;" />Initiative of Government</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS) 2010, put in place by the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies has prioritised 19 goods and services (7 agro-food products, 5 craft and industrial goods and 7 services) for export promotion in the next three to five years. Silver jewellery is one of the five craft and industrial goods on this priority list. German International Cooperation (GIZ) is one of those development partners, which have been supporting the government in implementing NTIS 2010. In consultation with MoCS, it has chosen two of the 19 products and services prioritized by NTIS 2010, namely medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPS)/essential oils and silver jewellery, to help enhance their exports.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Facts about Silver jewellery</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal&rsquo;s world market share of silver jewellery exports is about 0.2 percent. In the past few years, exports have been fairly stable and prospect for future export is generally seen as very good. Production costs are competitive and workers are readily available. Most major markets grant duty-free access to Nepali silver jewellery. There are also no any non-tariff barriers (NTBs) hindering exports of silver jewellery from Nepal, except that use of cadmium has resulted in ban of some items entering European markets.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Firms and companies involved in jewellery production and export are owned by private entrepreneurs and operate as small-scale/cottage producers. Firms normally outsource jewellery production to individual craftsmen who have in-house workshops. Annual production of silver jewellery in Nepal is 15 to 20 metric tons (MT) while the annual production capacity is estimated at 50 M. Silver jewellery is fully handmade in Nepal. Productivity and quality can be improved if production were further mechanized.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Monthly salaries of skilled workers in the silver jewellery sector is around US$100, which is less than that in competing countries such as India and Thailand. Almost all silver and 95 percent of gemstones and semiprecious stones required for jewellery are imported from India, Brazil, Thailand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and distributed by local importers.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	According to the Nepal Trade Integration Strategy 2010 almost half of the total production of silver jewellery produced in Nepal is supplied to the domestic market and the rest is exported. However, even those supplied to the domestic market are usually exported later either through resale to tourists or through informal exports. Poor business environment in the country has encouraged informal trade in substantial quantity.</div>',
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			'created' => '2014-03-03',
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			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Following the laboratory certification system the export of silver article is gradually moving ahead in the international market.',
			'sortorder' => '2565',
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	(int) 2 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2646',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Nepali Tea: Tea from the High Lands',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Nepal has a long history of tea cultivation, initiated with the establishment of Ilam Tea Estate in the hills of Ilam district in 1863 and Soktim Tea Estate in the plains. It is believed that tea plantation in Nepal started within the same decade, when it was introduced in the hills of Darjeeling, India.</p>
<p>
	First private sector tea plantation in Terai was established in 1959 under the name of Bhudhakaran Tea Estate. Government joined the sector in 1966 with the establishment of Nepal Tea Development Corporation. After considering the potential for tea farming in the eastern development region, in 1982 five districts of the region i.e. Jhapa, Ilam, Panchthar, Terhathum and Dhankuta were declared &lsquo;Tea Zone&rsquo;. However now days Tea is also cultivated in few other districts.<br />
	<br />
	Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board says that promotional activities to promote Nepali tea in the international market are inadequate even though it is listed as a priority in the Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS) 2010. This list includes the 19 Nepali products that have export potential. &ldquo;The government should be more concerned about its promotion in the international market so that it receives better market value and positioning in the international market,&rdquo; states the board.</p>
<p>
	<img alt="Tea Plantation &amp; Production" src="/userfiles/images/f3%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 225px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></p>
<p>
	The 2011 &ndash; 12 statistics states that the tea plantations which covers the area of 18149 hectares of land across the nation annually produces 18.3 million kgs of Tea and provides direct employment to 100 thousand people. Private sector actors in the industry comprise of small farmer as well big corporate houses that have large tea estates with tea processing factories and marketing mechanism.</p>
<p>
	<img alt="Tea Plantation and Production in Nepal" src="/userfiles/images/f1%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 237px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></p>
<p>
	There are 140 registered tea estates and 40 tea processing factories that produce 85 per cent of the nation&rsquo;s production volume.Some of these factories do not have their own tea estate. They process tea produced by small and medium tea farmers. This type of small holding tea estate farming is anticipated to flourish in the days ahead.</p>
<p>
	<img alt="Orthodox and CTC TEa Plantation" src="/userfiles/images/f2%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 174px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /><br />
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Packaging Industry</strong></span><br />
	There are two types of tea packaging industries operating in Nepal. First of these are the ones operated large scale tea producers who have their own tea estates and use the facility to package their products exclusively. Another type of factories buy tea products from national and international producers and package it at their own facility.<br />
	<br />
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Forecasts</strong></span><br />
	Presently Tea plantation is dominated by small holders. Future target is set to extend plantation to 40 thousand hectares with an expected harvest of 46 million kg of tea annually whose worth is estimated to be around 247 million dollars. This will generate employment for 102 thousand people in rural areas and is expected to boost up the rural economy, states the Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board.<br />
	<br />
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="Nepal TEa" src="/userfiles/images/f4%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 100px; height: 110px;" />Branding Efforts</strong></span><br />
	National Tea and Coffee Development Board has developed a logo in accordance to the provision of the National Tea Policy 2000 to introduce N e p a l Tea in the domestic and international market and create its niche. Half circle green background embedded by double red circle of this national tea logo indicates the eco-friendly environment of the tea garden; where a tea twig having two leaves and a bud flourish. Along with that the smiling and shining southern face of the Mt. Everest placed in the upper half portion of this logo signifies as the tea produced in the land of Himalayas. Two words &ldquo;NEPAL TEA&rdquo; placed within the diameter of the logo circle establish unfailingly as a brand that symbolizes &ndash; &ldquo;A symbol of quality from the top of the world.&rdquo;</p>',
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			'created' => '2014-02-23',
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			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'There are 140 Registered Tea Estate which contribute 85 per cent of the National’s production volume. Nepal has 40 Tea processing factories in private sectors.',
			'sortorder' => '2495',
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2623',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'A Case Of Doctor’s Negligence An Appendectomy Gone Wrong',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Shriya Pant&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Timro thulo dassaa taryo.&rdquo; (It&rsquo;s a Nepali saying whose English equivalent would be &ldquo;it could have been worse!). I have been getting that a lot since I had an appendectomy on October 2, 2013. It is a straight-forward medical procedure that interns often perform as their first surgery. But this simple procedure has left me with nerve damage &ndash; a condition called Meralgia paraesthetica - that is both physically and mentally frustrating.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	And the worst thing is, after consulting numerous doctors, it turns out I most likely did not even have appendicitis. The pain in my abdomen was pain that can sometimes occur after one has had shingles &ndash; which many doctors and surgeons often confuse for appendicitis. Instead of asking me for my medical history, Vayodha Hospital went straight for the surgery route, and consequently, I am living with something that could have been avoided had they simply asked.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Through my personal experience, I want to highlight the questionable state of private medical care in Nepal -- bring to light the flawed medical system, from the attitude of the doctors, the way in which the medical staff were so quick to wheel me into the operating theatre, to how the hospital management were not open to compensate me for my resulting nerve damage.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Considering that the pain I had was not excruciating nor was my appendix at its bursting point, I would have expected the staff at Vayodha to at least put me under observation for a night. But instead, what I got was &ldquo;the surgeon is about to leave, what have you decided?&rdquo; This kind of pressure on the patient does nothing but enhance stress. Yes, the final decision was ours to make, but had the hospital informed, counseled and encouraged us it was not urgent and that ideally, it would be best to observe my condition, we would have surely followed their advice.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	A patient is not a medical expert; s/he expects proper advice and counseling from doctors or hospital staff. In fact, such advice and counseling should be part of the basic services they offer. Unfortunately, profit, and not patient care and relationships, seems to be their mantra - something that was apparent not only in my experience, but is characteristic of the larger private health care system.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In the insatiable quest to make money, hospitals are springing up everywhere in Kathmandu. Where some sound and caring medical advice would be sufficient, patients are being forced to undergo procedures that may not be necessary because they cost more, whether it&rsquo;s being forced to have C-sections, or other surgeries that should not be the first course of action.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	While I appreciate that both the director of Vayodha and my surgeon took the time to talk to me about my nerve damage, it was more procedural and neither offered to pay for physiotherapy or other alternative courses to help alleviate the pain (whatever that might be). The surgeon also stubbornly refused to admit that this kind of nerve damage could occur after surgery. Most surprisingly he did not even know what Meralgia paraesthetica was. Instead, he proudly claimed to have simply made a small incision and slid the appendix out within 10-15 minutes!&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The refusal from the doctor that he may have made a mistake is not surprising. We live in a country where doctors believe, and we reinforce this belief, that they are like god, who know best, and can do no wrong. This is further reinforced by the fact that in Nepal, there are no repercussions for not doing your job properly. Negligence accompanied by impunity is the rule of the game.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	I am one of the privileged Nepalis, being able to afford a private hospital and seek medical care. But I don&rsquo;t want to keep going back to our beloved recourse of mero dasa rahecha (It was my bad luck), or ke garne (what to do?). I don&rsquo;t want to leave what should be practical, scientific and technical solutions to higher powers regardless of the fact that a majority of doctors in this country seem to think they possess. And I don&rsquo;t want to remain quiet any longer.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
	<em>(Pant has an MSC in international Health Policy from London School of Economics and is a public health professional.)</em></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-02-18',
			'modified' => '2014-02-18',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'In Nepali healthcare system, negligence accompanied by impunity is the rule of the game.',
			'sortorder' => '2464',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2616',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Health Of Nepali Ayurvedic Sector',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Although the use of modern medicine has been increasing over the years in Nepal, more than 75 percent of the country&rsquo;s population is estimated to be using traditional medicine. Ayurveda, Amchi, Homeopathy and Naturopathy are important traditional health systems that are in practice within the country. Among them, Ayurveda is the oldest and most popular traditional health care system. Dr Baburaja Amatya, Senior Ayurveda Doctor at the Department of Drug Administration said, &ldquo;Government has opened Ayurvedic Health Centre in every district of the country. This is indicative of the initiative taken by the government in the development of Ayurveda treatment system.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Increasing Scope</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Be it rural or the urbanities, people have been increasingly opting for Ayurvedic treatment, which can be clearly noticed in the comparative increase of sales and distribution of the Ayurvedic medicines this year. Dr Amatya said, &ldquo;People are gradually shifting their treatment system from allopathic to ayurvedic one and this is visible in the increase of sales of ayurvedic medicines. &nbsp;The sales of these medicines have doubled this year than that of previous years.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Increasing numbers of ayurvedic companies is another factor that reflects increasing use of ayurvedic treatment among Nepalis. There are 76 Nepali ayurvedic companies and recently some Indian ayurvedic companies are also being established in Nepal. &ldquo;Almost 30 Indian companies have opened their industry in Nepal promoting the national ayurvedic industry.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Abundant Raw Materials&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal has a special place in the history of ayurveda. It has rich biodiversity associated with its topographical diversity makes Nepal home to some 1,700 medical plants used in ayurvedic treatment.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Initiatives taken</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Both, the government and the private sector, has been investing and promoting ayurvedic treatment system. Gajendra Bahadur Bhuju, director general at the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) said, &ldquo;Nepali government has opened an ayurvedic health center in each district. &nbsp;Along with that it has established factories mainly in Butwal, Rupandehi, Birgunj and Kathmandu and some other districts.&rdquo; &ldquo;There are more than 100 companies in Nepal owned by government, private sector and foreign investors,&rdquo; he added.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Verification Measures</strong></span></div>
<div>
	DDA is the regulatory body certifying the production, distribution and quality control of the ayurvedic medicines in Nepal. &ldquo;The medicines can only be distributed to the market after it is certified as bacteria free,&rdquo; Dr Amatya said. He added, &ldquo;Similarly, the medicines are also checked for use of heavy materials like arsenic, lead etc during the manufacture process.&rdquo; &nbsp;An ayurvedic medicine manufacturing company should mandatorily acquire bacteria free certificate for acquiring permission to market its products. Amatya said the certification process has helped in increasing the quality of the ayurvedic medicines leading to the rise in credibility of Nepali ayurvedic medicines.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Export potential&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Demand for traditional medicine has been growing strongly over the last 15 years, especially in developed countries. As the land of Ayurveda, Nepal is a natural attraction for foreign consumers for alternative medicine. Adding to it, the resurgence of faith in traditional medicine among urban Nepalis after decades of domination of traditional health systems by modern medicine, seems promising.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	According to experts, main challenges in this sector include lack of resources and budget in government-owned health institutions, lack of medicines and equipment, lack of programmes that correspond to the need of communities; malpractices at the local level, lack of pathology and radiology services at district ayurveda health centres and lack of awareness among people of available Ayurveda services.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Amatya said, &ldquo;People still lack proper information about the usage, utilization of different ayurvedic medicines as a result of which its popularity is not increasing as expected.&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Steps to be taken</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Ayurveda treatment system has a long way to go in Nepal though it has abundant raw materials for preparing such medicines. Instead of exporting unprocessed herbs to foreign nations at cheaper prices, herbs should be processed within the country and exported at better prices. Maintaining international standards in the quality of human resources used and medicine produced are crucial for the industry to thrive at the international level. Similarly the government should launch effective publicity campaigns, aimed at nationals as well as foreigners, to highlight the effectiveness and benefits of using ayurvedic medicines.&nbsp;</div>',
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			'description' => 'Although the use of modern medicine has been increasing over the years in Nepal, more than 75 percent of the country’s population is estimated to be using traditional medicine. Ayurveda, Amchi, Homeopathy and Naturopathy are important traditional health systems that are in practice within the country.',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2582',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Chyangra Pashmina Regains Warmth',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Eliza Tuladhar</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	With the joint efforts of the government and the World Trade Organization (WTO)/ Enhanced Integrated Framework Trading Stories project, a project that aims to improve Pashmina product development and marketing, the Nepali Chyangra Pashmina is finally going to receive a new lease of life. Pashmina product is one of the major exportable products of the country but the export of the product started declining in the early 2000 when the international market started importing Pashmina products from Chinese and the Indian Market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The loss of reputation has significantly affected the Pashmina that was a very strong export industry for Nepal. In the year 2000, the industry had exported Pashmina worth Rs 15 billion but it has reduced to a mere Rs 1 billion currently due to the cheap fake products that keep the market flooded.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	However now with the support of WTO/EIF Trading Stories project the Pashmina industrialist are hopeful to revive its international trading and minimize the threat created due to the increasing number of export from the Chinese and Indian market. According to Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA) President, Pushpa Man Shrestha, the association is hopeful that the project will start from March this year. &ldquo;The project under the WTO/EIF Trading Stories is a three years long project which will be basically focused on showcasing, Chyangra farming, production of raw material, Pashmina manufacturing process and finally its trading process,&rdquo; said Shrestha.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The &lsquo;Pashmina Enhancement and Trade Support project under WTO aims to respond to trade related priorities in the Nepal Trade Integrated Strategies as well as to build sustainable local capacities and leverage additional resources from development partner pursuant to the goal. The project will contribute to achieving improved and increased export performance by at least 20 per cent. Chyangra Pashmina from Nepal is exported to more than 60 countries and the &lsquo;Chyangra&rsquo; trademark is registered in more than 40 of these countries.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Due to weak quality control and nominal productions of domestic raw materials, as well as lack of brand awareness of Nepali &lsquo;Chyangra Pashmina&rsquo; in the international market the export of Pashmina has been disturbed.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>History of Pashmina</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Pashmina is the finest inner wool that grows as layer at the very bottom of thick and coarse fibre of Himalayan goat, locally known as chyangra (Capra Hircus), living above 2000 meter from the sea level. Each chyangra does produce 90 grams of Pashmina once a year. It is extracted from its body either by combing or by cutting during January to February. Pashmina is one of the finest, softest, warmest and lightest wool found in nature. In fact, it is the best wool in the world. Pashmina is known by different names like &ldquo;Diamond Fibre&rdquo; and &ldquo;Soft Gold of High Asia&rdquo;. It is unparalleled in uniqueness and elegance to any other fibres. The main raw materials used for producing Pashmina products are &lsquo;Pashmina Yarn&rsquo; and &lsquo;Silk Yarn&rsquo; plus dyes and chemicals.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Pashmina in Nepal" src="/userfiles/images/pmn%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 260px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Production of Pashmina&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The production process of pashmina product generally includes weaving, dyeing, processing, fringing, tassels, embroidery, beadwork, printing etc. Nepali Chyangra Pashmina, one of the major exportable product of the country is &lsquo;the softest, exotically, delicate, weightless and the finest insulating fibre of the world with high potential for export to the European market. The outer layer of Chyangra is discarded and only the inner layer of fibre measuring less than 16.5 microns is specified for use as Pashmina. These extraordinary characters of Pashmina fibres have encouraged weavers to produce various types of wraps for warmness. The exquisite characters of Nepali Chyangra Pashmina have established it as the most precious possession. The Pashmina fibre thus obtained from the Chyangra are spun into thin yarn which is woven to make different types of Pashmina products like blankets, shawls, stoles, scarves as well as pullovers, cardigans etc.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Pricing of Pashmina products&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The price of Nepali Pashmina product basically depends upon its quality, ordering size, colour, design and size. Almost all of the Pashmina industries are concentrated in the Kathmandu Valley. They are absolutely export-oriented. However, it has been given the impression that as many as 5 per cent of its products may be consumed within the country. Pashmina products account for more than 50 per cent of the total export figure of the handicraft products. And it is the major export component under the handicraft goods category.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The number of international export markets of Nepali Pashmina products exceeds 40 out of which, USA, Italy, Canada, UK, France, Japan, Germany and India are the major ones.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Challenges faced by Nepali Chyangra Pashmina</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepali Pashmina industries need to import all the raw material. Pashmina Yarn and Silk Yarn are imported from China and India and Chemicals and dyes from Europe and India. It can be made of pure Pashmina yarn or by using both Pashmina yarn and Silk yarn in a certain proportion normally in the ratio of 70:30, depending upon the demand of the buyers. Fineness, softness, warmness, lightness, durability and craftsmanship are its inherent features. Shrestha also claimed that lower priced Indian Pashmina products have hit the market of Nepali Pashmina and has made it difficult to survive the growing price competition. Pashmina exporters also say that according to the international buyers, price of Nepali Pashmina products is around 30 per cent more than that of Indian products. Indian exporters can buy huge quantity of raw materials and have started their own spinning that has made their products more competitive in the international market.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Pashmina industries in the country&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	According to Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA) there are around 20 industries that have exports of around Rs one billion including exports to India. There are 300 Pashmina exporters registered at NPIA and out of them 20 have high production capacity and with good export figures. There are around two to four industries who also export Pashmina to India.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Pashmina was famous across the world for the past couple of decades but with the introduction of low priced and fake Pashmina wool, the original Pashmina industry is fighting for existence. However the product is gradually being reintroduced as the brand &lsquo;Chyangra Pashmina&rsquo;. &ldquo;We have tried to reintroduce the Nepali Pashmina with the brand &lsquo;Chyangra Pashmina; and we hope that the WTO/EIF project will give us much required support to move ahead with promotion and development of new products and improvement of the products that will meet the demands of the international market,&rdquo; said Shrestha. The association along with the government has registered a collective trademark &lsquo;Chyangra Pashmina&rsquo; and its logo in the domestic and international markets to get rid of fake pashmina. Chyangra pashmina is now a registered brand in 41 countries. The association has also applied for its registration in South Africa, Brazil, Russia, Taiwan and the UAE.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The World Trade Organization has recently developed trading stories of Pashmina to create awareness about the product and bring more opportunities for it in the international market. The Pashmina trading story includes each step of production &ndash;&ndash; from Chyangra farming to processing &ndash;&ndash; which will help create awareness about pure Chyangra Pashmina among the people in around 148 countries.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="10" width="99%">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td bgcolor="#E5E4E2">
				<div>
					<div>
						<div>
							<div>
								<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><img alt="Shawl" src="/userfiles/images/1%20(Copy)(3).jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 50px; height: 102px;" />Shawl</strong></span></div>
							<div>
								Pashmina Shawls are the most exportable Nepali product. It is loosely worn over the shoulders, upper body, and arms. Generally in Nepal it is used by ladies in parties and function, outings in winter season where as in the western countries female use it anytime as a fashion statement.&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><img alt="Stole" src="/userfiles/images/2%20(Copy)(3).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 75px; height: 90px;" />Stole</strong></span></div>
							<div>
								Pashmina stole is a smaller form of the shawl. Nepal is renowned all over the world for its finely woven Pashmina stoles. Stoles are mostly used by younger generation without wrapping. It covers the shoulders and falls down in front of the body.&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><img alt="Scarf" src="/userfiles/images/3%20(Copy)(3).jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; width: 80px; height: 100px;" />Scarf</strong></span></div>
							<div>
								A scarf is a piece of fabric worn around the neck for warmth. &nbsp;Nepal is well known for its finely woven Pashmina scarves. It is also one of the most exportable products.&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								&nbsp;</div>
						</div>
					</div>
				</div>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-02-10',
			'modified' => '2014-02-18',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'With the joint efforts of the government and the World Trade Organization (WTO)/ Enhanced Integrated Framework Trading Stories project, a project that aims to improve Pashmina product development and marketing, the Nepali Chyangra Pashmina is finally going to receive a new lease of life.',
			'sortorder' => '2426',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2574',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'MAN’s Past And Present',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	<strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Management Association of Nepal (MAN) was established in 1979 as the apex body of management professionals with active support of the corporate sector. As a national-level non-profit and non-partisan membership-based professional organization, MAN has been an important forum for developing management professionalism and for fostering a performance-oriented and socially responsible work culture in the country. It has a strong membership base of over 1,700 individuals and 180 institutions that are associated with various disciplines and sectors of Nepali economy and society.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	MAN is one of the founding members of the Asian Association of Management Organizations (AAMO). It has close links with a number of well-known professional bodies like the American Management Association (AMA) and All India Management Association (AIMA). These linkages provide MAN access to information on best management practices and techniques available in the other parts of the world. Experts have increasingly stressed that the ongoing processes of state&rsquo;s restructuring and transformation in Nepal should follow management development process for effectiveness and sustainability</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Organisational structure of MAN</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The General Assembly is the supreme body in MAN&rsquo;s organizational structure and is responsible for providing policy guidelines and directives. It elects an executive committee in every two years. The executive committee implements policies, approves programs and provides guidelines to the secretariat. A secretariat, headed by the Executive Director is responsible for the organization&rsquo;s day-to-day administration and management. MAN develops and delivers its services through active participation of its members.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Current MAN executive committee</strong></span></div>
<div>
	There are 19 members in the incumbent executive committee of MAN with Janak Raj Shah as its president, Uttar Kumar Shrestha as the first vice president, Gosal KC second vice president, Sushil Kumar Aryal as secretary general, and Shanti Laxmi Shakya as the treasurer. The remaining 13 members are Arjun Kumar Gautam, Dilip Raj Paudel, Prof. Dr Fatta Bahadur KC, Jeevan Devi Kansakar, Krishna Gyawali, Pratap Kumar Pathak, Pratik Adhikari, Rajiv Pokharel, Rameshwor Prasad Khanal, Saroj Kumar Pradhan, Dr.Som Prasad Pudasaini, Tikajit Rai, and Sushil Bhatta. Kaji Bahadur Dahal has been acting as the executive director of this association.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Awards</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Management Association of Nepal (MAN) started the MAN Manager of the Year Award in 1987 with an aim to promote development of management skills and to recognize best management practitioners. In 2002, the association also started felicitating outstanding Women managers with the Women Manager Recognition Award. In some exceptional case, the association also felicitates people who have made outstandingcontribution to management sector with its prestigious &lsquo;Outstanding Management Award.&rsquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In its earlier days, the association focused on financial sector as the recipient of its awards, but later on, it increased outreach and scope of the award to other sectors like hospital, music, education, corporates etc. The association is planning to felicitate civil servants from this year by introducing Civil Servant Award this year. &ldquo;We will select one of the government employees after proper analysis and confirmations from various sources,&rdquo; said MAN executive director Kaji Bahadur Dahal.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Annual activities&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Management Association of Nepal focuses on research, training, and education sector. &ldquo;Apart from research and training programmes we have our own management college where we try to produce more efficient management student,&rdquo; said Dahal. According to him, pre budget discussion programmes and monetary policy advisory preparation are some of the annual programmes done by the MAN. &ldquo;Most of our programmes are organized in association with international agencies,&rdquo; he said.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	One of the core activities of MAN is conducting different management trainings programmes for various levels, covering critical and emerging areas. It organizes around 100 training and workshop programmes, as required or requested.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Current activity</strong></span></div>
<div>
	This year, MAN is preparing to organizeManagement Development Scenario 2013 as part of its 33rd National Management Convention. Highlights of the programme include paper presentation on &lsquo;Political Management: A case of Nepal&rsquo;, presentation and discussion on &lsquo;Management Development Scenario&rsquo; and will announce recipients of &lsquo;Manager of the Year Award&rsquo; and &lsquo;Woman Manager Recognition Award&rsquo;.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>SWOT Analysis of MAN</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Strengths</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&bull;Expertise of members</div>
<div>
	&bull;Strong knowledge base</div>
<div>
	&bull;Good recognition in international level since it is affiliated to many organizations across the world</div>
<div>
	&bull;Has high level government as well as public enterprises executives as its members</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Weaknesses</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&bull;Unable to engage members from diverse sector</div>
<div>
	&bull;Majority of the members are government officials</div>
<div>
	&bull;Lack of sufficient products to sell</div>
<div>
	&bull;Knowledge as the only saleable product but unable to sell it to generate profits</div>
<div>
	&bull;Financially stable but not strong</div>
<div>
	&bull;Discontinuation of membership&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&bull;Members not able to give enough time to the Association</div>
<div>
	&bull;Insufficient infrastructure</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Opportunities</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&bull;Access and reach on both private and public sector</div>
<div>
	&bull;Growing demand for management research&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&bull;Growing popularity, though slowly, among public and private sector managers</div>
<div>
	&bull;Emergence of modern corporate sector</div>
<div>
	&bull;The organisation&rsquo;s college has a potential to start MPhil and PhD classes</div>
<div>
	&bull;Possibility to launch faculty development programmes related to management education</div>
<div>
	&bull;The Association can be developed as an authority on management issues for the country</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Threats</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&bull;Possible formation of organisations of similar nature</div>
<div>
	&bull;Emergence of competitors in research and educational services&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&bull;Perception as an organisation only for the government officials</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/man%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 604px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-02-09',
			'modified' => '2014-02-10',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Management Association of Nepal (MAN) was established in 1979 as the apex body of management professionals with active support of the corporate sector. As a national-level non-profit and non-partisan membership-based professional organization, MAN has been an important forum for developing management professionalism and for fostering a performance-oriented and socially responsible work culture in the country',
			'sortorder' => '2419',
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			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
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	),
	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2528',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Generators: A Biz Thriving Under Loadshedding',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Madan Lamichhane</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The increase in load shedding hours and dip in temperature have created double whammy for generators market. In the past years, non-branded generators with low capacity were high on demand. But, now, people are inclined towards branded generators. Thus, the demand for branded generators is increasing day by day.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The generator market is on rise mainly because of the rise in the loadshedding hours. Prior to loadshedding, generators were used for backup only. But, due to current energy crisis, generators are being used as an alternative source of energy. The present Nepali market consists of four kinds of generators that run on deisel, petrol, gas and kerosene.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Branded Vs Non-Branded generators</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Previously, customers prefered non-branded generators due to its low cost. However, in the recent days, people are aware about the quality of the generators which is one of the main reason for the increasing demand for generators. According to Vishal Gadia, Executive Director of Morang Auto Works Engineering Pvt Ltd., increasing awareness among people about the &nbsp;lifespan of the generators, fuel consumption, servicing and facilities of branded generators has caused a decline in the sales of non-branded generators. However, the share of low capacity generators in the Nepali market in the non-branded segment is also significant. &nbsp;Gadia estimates the market share of the non-branded generators with a capacity between one to &nbsp;20 KVA to be around fifty per cent. However, in comparison to the fast few years, the use of such generators has been decreasing, he adds.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Even though branded generators require huge amount of investment, because of its quality it is highly demanded,&rdquo; says Nirmal Bogati, Director of Subha Kamal Global Business Hub Pvt Ltd.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In the recent years, generators have become compulsion in housing, departmental stores, offices and factories. Due to its increasing demand, there are varieties of generators available in the market from various brands of different capacities. However, in the past three years, the market of generator has remained stable because of its long lifespan. &ldquo;Generators are equipments that need not be bought time and again and thus the market is stable,&rdquo; says Bogati.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The market consists of different sized generators, ranging from portable generators to big heavy generators. &ldquo;Generators of different sizes are brought in the market depending on the customer&rsquo;s demand,&rdquo; says Bandhan Karki, Manager of Syakar Company Ltd. &nbsp;Syakar Company recently launched portable Honda generators. &ldquo;Such portable generators are useful for trekkers,&rdquo; adds Karki.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The increasing load shedding hours and the restriction on imports of inverters by the government has compelled the consumers to be dependent on generators. The Ministry of Energy had restricted imports of inverters in 2066 with the aim of decreasing loadshedding in Nepal.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Loadshedding directly affects the sales of low capacity generators. According to Gadia, the sale of generators with a capacity of 20 KVA is increasing because of long hours of loadshedding. If the loadshedding hours were less, &nbsp;consumers would have used lower capacity generators. This could decrease the sales of generators below 20 KVA capacity.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Market Competition</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&ldquo;The generators with 1 to 20 KVA capacity make up 75 per cent of the market share&rdquo;, says Gadia. In comparsion to big generators, small ones are demanded more because of their relatively low price. The market competition is based on the features of the generators. As such, the competition between companies is based on fuel consumption, operation cost, customer service, availability of spare parts and price of the generators. Consumers&rsquo; awareness about low quality generators has created competition based on service, incentives and quality. This has led to the downfall of the non-branded generators as consumers are being aware about their pitfalls.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Brands sold in Nepal</strong></span></div>
<div>
	There are one hundred generator distributors in Kathmandu alone. Some of the recognized generators in Nepal are- Honda, Yamaha, Kirloskar, Kohler, SDS and Greaves. 80 per cent of the branded generators are used in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Narayanghat while the remaining 20 per cent is used in other cities. &nbsp;As there is no basis to expect reduction in loadhshedding hours for the next 5 years, energy experts have said that generators are the best alternative to meet the energy crisis.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Types of generator engines</strong></span></div>
<div>
	There are basically two types of generators available in the market-water cooled engines and air cooled engines. Many entrepreneurs believe that water cooled generators are more effective in comparison to air cooled ones. Water cooled are relatively cheaper and have a longer life span.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In the recent times, the generators that are assembled in Nepal are gaining popularity. But, entrepreneurs suggest consumers to opt for branded generators because these come with warranty and other facilities. Similarly, the engines of branded generators are covered. These generators are safe to use and are sound proof. In India, generators lacking &lsquo;sound proof&rsquo; facility are banned.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Generators" src="/userfiles/images/fc1%20(Copy)(5).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 166px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Generators everywhere</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Though branded generators require huge amount of investment, customers&rsquo; preference for them &nbsp;have made them dominent in the market. Likewise, entrepreneurs believe that some of the latest Chinese generators available in the market are also good in terms of quality. Due to lack of domestic production of generators, many entrepreneurs have established themselves as authorized distributors of foreign branded generators.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Problems</strong></span></div>
<div>
	For the imports of small generators of 10 KVA capacity, 25 per cent custom duty has to be paid. But, for importing generators with more capacity, only 1 per cent custom duty has to be paid. This is creating a big problem for the entrepreneurs. Because of the increasing loadshedding hours generators are demanded in every sector now . So, the government has to reduce custom in small generators because they are high in demand. If done so many people can afford generators.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Things to be considered</strong></span></div>
<div>
	After every hundred hours of use, generators must be given for servicing. Generators, being a matter of one time investment, have to be used carefully. Generators have to be kept safely and out of reach of children. Similarly, their engine oil has to be checked time and again.</div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-01-27',
			'modified' => '2014-02-13',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'The increase in load shedding hours and dip in temperature have created double whammy for generators market. In the past years, non-branded generators with low capacity were high on demand. But, now, people are inclined towards branded generators. Thus, the demand for branded generators is increasing day by day.',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2478',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Rainbow Trout Business In Nepal',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Rashika Pokharel</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rainbow Trout fish farming is a profit generating business, which has a wide scope in the Nepali market. Rainbow Trout, one of the many species of trout fishes, is a freshwater fish of the salmon family. Rainbow Trout fish have layers of red, green and blue colours glinting from their scales and get their name from this particular quality. This fish grows in cold and fresh running water. Climatic conditions of Nepal are suitable for the farming of this fish and correspondingly many entrepreneurs have capitalized on this fact. Nepali fish lovers have admired delicacies of this fish while appreciating various health benefits it has.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The fish is not native to Nepali waters. For the first time, it was imported for cultivation from Japan in 1988. Due to favourable environmental condition, production of this fish flourished since then. Recently, private sector has introduced new technologies for producing and packaging it. In Nepal, it is generally perceived that fish farming is possible only in the Terai region of the nation. However, recent developments made in fish farming techniques, has caused a paradigm shift in this sector. Now, Rainbow Trout farming is possible in Hilly areas as well.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rainbow Trout farming was first started in Nuwakot. It has been able to bring considerable changes in economic status of the farmers. Even though the fish if produced in multiple places across the nation, the production has not been able to meet market demands. The fish is available in few department stores in Kathmandu. And sometimes consumers are found to be importing it as well. Comparatively the fish is costly than other species of fishes available in Nepali market. &ldquo;A kg of rainbow trout fish costs Rs. 1400,&rdquo; says Rajendra Khadka, owner of Budanilkantha Riverside Restaurant, that sells this fish by producing in its own facility inside the restaurant premises.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>The Healthiest Choice</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Rainbow trout is rich in protein which helps to lose weight and retain lean muscle mass. It contains Omega-3 fatty acid, which helps to reduce blood pressure and helps to overcome depression. This acid also reduces risks of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, high blood cholesterol and certain types of cancer. &nbsp;It contains minerals, iron, calcium, zinc and vitamins including- vitamin B complex and Vitamin D. Delicious and readily available in most grocery stores, Rainbow Trout is also low in sodium and calories.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rainbow trout has comparatively low-fat level and is low in cholesterol too, which makes it a good protein substitute for meats like beef, pork and lamb that contain significantly higher amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Production</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Rainbow trout production is expensive. Rs 20 million investment is required to produce 10 tons of Rainbow Trout and Rs 10 million is required to produce 5 tons. The Investment can be made on the basis of producer&rsquo;s need and financial capabilities. Like other business field, this field has its own bottlenecks and risk factors. &ldquo;Rainbow trout production is not easy. The sustenance of Rainbow Trout farming is difficult to manage both in terms of monetary and labour cost,&rdquo; says Khadka.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Farmers buy baby Rainbow Trout and rear them until they grow to a standard weight. According to Kapil Thapa, Manager at Nepal Rainbow Trout Farmers Association, the standard weight of a rainbow trout for selling is 200 gram. It takes a year for the baby trout to grow up and gain this weight.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rainbow trout farming can be done in any season. However, &ldquo;The most favourable season for its farming is from November to April,&rdquo; says Mahendra Ghorasini, Central Vice-president of Himalayan Trout Association. The suitable temperature for an adult Rainbow Trout to grow properly is 10-14 degree Celsius and 9-12 degree Celsius for the smaller one. &nbsp;This species of the fish require clean, cold and continuously flowing water to sustain and grow.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Rainbow Trout farming is done by a very few farmers because its production is expensive as well as difficult. &nbsp;A single rainbow trout farm setup requires continuous flowing water, a cemented pool and a large area. Though this fish is popular, the popularity is limited to a very few selected groups and is yet reach the mass market. Due to high cost, the popularity is limited to upper middle and high-class people who can afford high costs for seafood eateries. One of the many reasons for the failure of this product to establish in the mass market is the lack of seafood eating culture among general Nepalis, some of which also perceive that seafood eateries are beyond their household budget, Ghorasaini says. Failure to obtain large market for the product has incurred losses to some farmers as sometimes farmers cannot sell reared Rainbow Trout in time.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Another reason behind the declination of rainbow trout sales is the lack of advertisement. &ldquo;We are not getting platform to let people know about rainbow trout,&rdquo; says Thapa. In lack of a proper platform to advertise and reach the common mass of people, the farming has received substantial setbacks in supply its produces.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	One of the major reasons for the high cost of Rainbow Trout in the market is the cost of the food served to this fish. Food served to this fish costs between Rs 130 to Rs 225 per kg.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Adding to it lack of technological developments, proper equipment, and experts the production of the fish has been affected. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have latest technological equipment that can make substantial changes in producing the fish on large scale,&rdquo; Ghorasini said pointing out the reason behind small-scale production of the fish.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>The future</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Despite the seemingly disinterestedness among urban and rural Nepalis for seafood, trends are changing. With more and more restaurants booming in Kathmandu and other urban centres across the nation and with consumers becoming more concerned about hygienic and healthy food, Rainbow Trout delicacies are expected to gain more popularity in the days ahead. Even though the fish is costly, increasing income level of consumers and the health benefits attached to this fish will help in attracting more consumers to buy it. Therefore, they are ready to pay a higher price if the food is nutritious and beneficial.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Future of farmers and entrepreneurs involved in this sector can be secured through special initiatives of the government. The government should assist in conducting researches and providing remedies to the Rainbow Trout fisheries and assist in coordinating with international communities for in sourcing technological advances made in this field. Providing subsidies on the raw materials used by this industry would further help in bringing the market cost of the product and thereby increasing sales of the farmers and making this healthy product available to mass consumers.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Rainbow Trout Business in Nepal" src="/userfiles/images/fn1%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 206px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-01-20',
			'modified' => '2014-01-27',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Rainbow Trout fish farming is a profit generating business, which has a wide scope in the Nepali market. Rainbow Trout, one of the many species of trout fishes, is a freshwater fish of the salmon family. Rainbow Trout fish have layers of red, green and blue colours glinting from their scales and get their name from this particular quality. This fish grows in cold and fresh running water. Climatic conditions of Nepal are suitable for the farming of this fish and correspondingly many entrepreneurs have capitalized on this fact. Nepali fish lovers have admired delicacies of this fish while appreciating various health benefits it has.',
			'sortorder' => '2336',
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			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
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	),
	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2430',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Organic Farming Booming In Nepal',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Organic food is slowly getting bigger, both in terms of follower and producer, in Nepal. With the ever-increasing interest among urban Nepalis for organic food, various aspects of organic farming are also surging. Nepali are now more concerned about what they eat and how they are produced or prepared. Being aware of the fact that quality of the products consumed determines health condition, they are willing to pay for healthy food products. This is one of the major reason there is increasing demand for organic vegetables especially in urban areas. This is apparent when you see the growing number of restaurants in the Kathmandu serving dishes made only from Nepali organic food.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In the present context, population growth, coupled with the drop in food production, has led to the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and other high output technology to increase agro production. The inability of traditionally produced food to meet the day-to-day needs of the growing population has pushed farmers to adopt newer technologies and use chemicals in farming to increase production. However organic farming provides distinct benefits to its consumers and the environment. Despite other benefits that organic products have, Nepal has not been able to harness the potential of this sector besides few commercial crops that serve as examples of organic farming and organic products such as tea, coffee, honey, ginger, cardamom and medicinal herbs.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Steps being taken&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Organic agriculture sector is gaining momentum in Nepal. It possesses great scope for its competitiveness, as Nepal is home to many products, namely spices, essential oils and medicinal plants, fresh fruits and vegetables. &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The National Standard for organic agriculture has also been established and endorsed by the government, and working guidelines for two certification systems (Internal Control System and Participatory Guarantee System) are being developed, both of which will serve as an important instrument for taking advantage of the international and domestic markets. The latter is a certification scheme particularly for small farmers whose products are of high demand in the local market, but who cannot meet the high cost of certification.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<table align="center" width="100">
		<tbody>
			<tr>
				<td>
					<img alt="Farmers working in an organic farm." src="/userfiles/images/fc%20(Copy).jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 550px; height: 210px;" /></td>
			</tr>
			<tr>
				<td bgcolor="#DDDDDD">
					<div align="center">
						<div style="text-align: center;">
							<strong>The Organic Village Kathmandu&rsquo;s product range: Rice, lentils, jams, beans, honey along with different vegetables and fruits and dairy and meat products. Most of the products are grown in mountainous places like Jumla, Humla and Mustang. Some premium products of The Organic Village are Jumli Marsi Rice from Jumla (grown at 2500 m); Kalo Dal (black lentils) from Rasuwa (grown above 2000 m); red rice and yellow rice from Humla; frog meat (called &lsquo;paha&rsquo;). All together, The Organic Village gets its products from 33 districts of the country. It has recently begun exporting organic products of Nepal to the United Kingdom, the Unites States, South Africa and Qatar.</strong></div>
					</div>
				</td>
			</tr>
		</tbody>
	</table>
</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Organic Farms in Kathmandu</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Samir Newa, founder of The Organic Village in Baluwatar, Kathmandu and the pioneer of organic farming in the country said that the interest in organic food products, whether it is fresh apples or vegetables, among the medium-high class families is growing. However, he noted that some people consider organic lifestyle as &lsquo;fashionable&rsquo; rather than actually a way to promote healthy lifestyle.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;A majority of the people are still not aware of &lsquo;organic culture&rsquo; in Kathmandu itself,&rdquo; said Newa adding, &ldquo;Organic food is considered to be out of reach of the public as they are expensive and difficult to find.&rdquo; Similarly, a sample study conducted among 500 medium-class people in the Capital by Newa in 2011 claims that only 34 percent of the respondents had knowledge of organic farming and products. Of them,17 percent respondents partially used organic food products and only four percent completely used such products. &ldquo;The government has failed to come up with friendly policies and programmes to encourage organic farming that would protect public health from unwanted chemicals,&rdquo; Newa said.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The Organic Village was founded in 2003 with the aim of not only growing chemical free food, but also of creating public awareness about the benefits of organic food. The Organic Village is supported by development agencies like UNDP, Winrock International, GTZ, Micro Enterprise Development Program, Small Grants Program. According to Samir Newa, foods grown at high altitude contain less fat than those grown in warm regions.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Emphasis on organic agriculture at policy and programme level looks inadequate for its development and promotion. There is a virtual lack of government support to organic growers and marketers. It is necessary that marketability of any organic products, and that too at a premium price over the traditional and modern products has to be assured before starting the cultivation of organic crops. Mass production of organic products and the business volume for market sale are still invisible. Research work on processing and certification are weak and, in many cases, are missing.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Organic farming has its own shortcomings in Nepal. Poor technical skills and capacity in managing complex farm land problem, insufficient organic technology to support production, lack of research on processing and certification, poor investment capacity, small and fragmented land holding, and less risk bearing capacity among others are the key constraints at the producers&rsquo; level. Poor consumers&rsquo; awareness about organic products, quality and availability, lack of trust regarding the authenticity of the products, higher prices of organic products, impoverished market infrastructure are the constraints at marketers&rsquo; level.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Prospects and Possibilities &nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Organic farming holds out huge prospect in Nepalese context. Co-ordinated efforts among the actors are essential to boost it by meeting the challenges on the way to its development. Suresh Prasad Neupane, Member of Paurakhi Samudayik Krishi Sahakari said, &ldquo;Policy environment and clear long term vision and plan including research, extension, market development and commercialization of this sector are vital for the growth of this sector.&rdquo; Adding that organic industry is too small and has a long way to go in Nepal he said, &ldquo;Political commitments such as avoiding conflicting drive to maximize production, hammering proactive policy, initiating organic technology research, providing market incentives and institutionalization of Nepalese organic movement are imperative to further enhance organic sector in Nepal.&rdquo; &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<table align="center" width="100">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>
				<img alt="Farmers working in an organic farm." src="/userfiles/images/fc1%20(Copy)(4).jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 550px; height: 276px;" /></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td bgcolor="#DDDDDD">
				<div align="center">
					<div style="text-align: center;">
						<div>
							<strong>Farmers working in an organic farm.</strong></div>
					</div>
				</div>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>National level committees are formed for boosting organic farming in Nepal.</strong></span></div>
<div>
	<strong>&bull;<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>National Organic Agriculture Accreditation Body (NOAAB): It accredits and certifies organic products.</strong></div>
<div>
	<strong>&bull;<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>National Coordination Committee for Organic Agriculture Production and Processing System (NCCOAPPS): It helps in strengthening production and processing of organic agriculture.</strong></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-01-07',
			'modified' => '2014-01-20',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Organic food is slowly getting bigger, both in terms of follower and producer, in Nepal. With the ever-increasing interest among urban Nepalis for organic food, various aspects of organic farming are also surging. Nepali are now more concerned about what they eat and how they are produced or prepared. Being aware of the fact that quality of the products consumed determines health condition, they are willing to pay for healthy food products. This is one of the major reason there is increasing demand for organic vegetables especially in urban areas. This is apparent when you see the growing number of restaurants in the Kathmandu serving dishes made only from Nepali organic food.',
			'sortorder' => '2272',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2382',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Bee-Keeping: A Source Of Employment Generation',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The value and importance of bees and honey have increased these days and beekeeping has became an entrepreneurial enterprise that has drawn many farmers towards it. Demand for honey has been increasing in Nepal and corresponding to it, its production is also rapidly increasing. Commercial beekeeping is becoming a reliable source of income-generation for some Nepali farmers.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;In the beginning of this business, one can earn Rs 5,000 per year. This income goes on increasing in the later years,&rdquo; said Raju Khatiwada, Proprieter of Namaste Mount Everest Honey Pvt Ltd. &nbsp;Khatiwada has been earning Rs 800,000 annually from 200 beehives. &ldquo;Initial cost of a hive is Rs 5,000 to 6,000. People may think this as low income, but as years pass by, the profit keeps increasing,&rdquo; Khatiwada added. Apart from buying beehives, which is a capital expenditure, other running expenditures are nominal and in the second year of the business, Khatiwada said that a profit of around Rs 15,000 could be gained.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	However, for commercial beekeeping, an entrepreneur needs to make initial investment of around Rs 400,000, according to Ganesh Basnet, President of Center of Nepal Bee-Keeping Cooperatives Association said. He explained, &ldquo;Commercial beekeeping should be started with at least 40 &ndash; 50 hives, as beehives have to be taken to different places for grazing and transportation expenses are the same whether you have 20 hives or 30 or 50.&rdquo; &rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Profit Generation</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Beekeeping business promises double profit to its entrepreneur within two years of starting the business. Nepal has favourable climate for bee keeping from Hilly to Terai region. Lately, commercial bee keeping is being done in the districts like Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Kaski, Palpa, Parbat, Kailali, Jumla, Sarlahi, Makwanpur, Jhapa, Sunsari, Morang, Surkhet, Kavre, Dang and Pyuthan. Bees are an important part of pollination. While they collect honey, they also play this important role of a pollinator that helps in the reproduction of plants and ultimately in maintaining ecological balance.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Estimates claim that Nepal has around 140,000 to 160,000 hives. Among them around 35,000 hives are Melifera and rest belong to the Serena species, according to Dharma Raj Shrestha, President of Center for Bee Keeping Association Nepal. Entrepreneurs claim that comparatively, Melifera breed is capable of producing more amount of honey in short span of time. Other honeybee species found in Nepal are Himalayan bee, Kathyauri and Ghar Mauri.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Demand Exceeding Production</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Honey entrepreneurs in Nepal have not been able to cater to the increasing demand of honey. Shrestha said Nepali market&rsquo;s annual demand for honey is around four million kg. But government statistics show that only 1.6 million kg of honey is being produced annually in Nepal. Cooperatives have been playing crucial role in the development of the honey industry. &ldquo;Around Rs 1.4 billion has already been invested in the bee keeping business conducted under cooperatives,&rdquo; Basnet said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The commercial bee keeping in Nepal started from 2051 B.S. with the initiation of late King Birendra following his visit to Europe. According to &nbsp;Basnet among total honey produced in Nepal almost half amount is contributed by cooperatives.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Demand for honey from educated families who understand the importance of honey is increasing,&rdquo; Basnet said adding that demand for honey from companies producing Ayurvedic medicines has also been increasing.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Lack of Laboratory&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal is rich in biodiversity, our bees feed on the nectar of flowers and fruits that are not available in many parts of the world but producers are finding it remarkably difficult to meet international standards. There is lack of proper laboratory for the verification of the quality of produced honey. Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) has been testing the quality of honey but honey verified by this department can&rsquo;t be exported in international market as its certificate is still not accepted by many importing countries, said the entrepreneurs.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	They said, &ldquo;The honey produced in Nepalis organic and its demand can highly increase in Nepal if the verification problem is sorted out.&rdquo; Shrestha said, &ldquo;Nepal government is not showing concern for promoting this business.&rdquo; He complains that various government institutions have been approving the distribution of honey without proper investigating its quality and adds that reasons like this have been rendering beekeeping business unsustainable.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Honey producers have realized that they have the potential of creating lucrative niche markets overseas through branding Nepali honey as &lsquo;organic honey&rsquo;, &lsquo;Himalayan honey&rsquo; and &lsquo;honey from the highlands&rsquo; but have been hindered in doing so due to existing set backs in the sector. Entrepreneurs claim beekeeping is yet to establish itself a commercial profession. Lack of proper technical knowledge in prospective beekeepers is another factor that has hindered the business from flourishing in Nepal. Inability to develop new species of honeybees and lack of a government regulatory body in the form of Honey Development Board, has been hindering the sector from flourishing. Presently the sector has been coordinated by cooperatives and establishment of a regulatory body is thought to be a crucial factor for giving it headway.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Though the government has introduced the &nbsp;policy of &lsquo;Bee-keeping for Livelihood&rsquo;, it is not enough for the commercial expansion of this business,&rdquo; Shrestha said.&ldquo;Commercial beekeeping can be conceptualized as prosperous business sector for the promotion and development of this sector,&rdquo; he added. He claimed that lack of proper policy facilitating commercial beekeeping has hindered honey exports to potential international market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="BeeKeeping" src="/userfiles/images/fck1%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 361px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Steps to be taken</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The most important initiative to establish the honey industry is to make beekeeping entrepreneurial. Though production capacity is steadily growing, there is a need for establishing a consulting mechanism and to prepare an action that would ensure that prospective beekeepers can easily access latest technology and resources for expanding their business.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Providing training on beekeeping and production of hives, tools and providing consultation services on the safety of bees, honey production, storage, processing would attract youths for getting involved in this sector and get self-employed.</div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2013-12-31',
			'modified' => '2014-01-20',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'The value and importance of bees and honey have increased these days and beekeeping has became an entrepreneurial enterprise that has drawn many farmers towards it. Demand for honey has been increasing in Nepal and corresponding to it, its production is also rapidly increasing. Commercial beekeeping is becoming a reliable source of income-generation for some Nepali farmers.',
			'sortorder' => '2226',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2342',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Elegant Interiors In Demand',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	For years, the beauty of Nepali homes remained only skin deep. Urban Nepalis beautified the exteriors of their houses, but neglected the interiors. Today&rsquo;s middle-class Nepalis, however, are not only paying greater attention to interiors but demanding simple, smart decor that is durable and easy to maintain. At the start of the new millennium, bright coloured walls and long curtains became popular and turned into immediate status symbols.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	House owners are attracted towards simple yet elegant designs rather than showy, colourful ones. &ldquo;People no longer want furniture and flooring that their friends or colleagues have. They want something unique, yet minimal and are willing to pay for it,&rdquo; says Arpana Baral of The Interiors. &ldquo;Simplicity and elegance are what people believe in and go for it nowadays.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Gone are the days, when construction of a home was solely considered as a great achievement by an urban Nepali. Interior decoration of the house has become a higher priority in recent years. It is believed that a house with perfect interior design can trigger positive vibes among the family members and can also create good impression on the guests.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Interior decoration is no more considered a luxury nowadays. It has become a necessity of urban life,&rdquo; said Sanu Raja Silpakar, President of Interior Designers Association of Nepal. He further added, &ldquo;Change in people&rsquo;s lifestyle, construction of attractive apartments and increasing economic activities have helped in the professional expansion of the interior design sector.&rdquo; He claims that almost 75 per cent of Kathmandu house owners buy furniture after completing interior design of their houses.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Academic Courses on Interior Designing</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The growing number of housing and apartment projects have supported the growth of professionals in this sector. Demand for professional interior designers in this field has increased the number of institutes that offer courses on interior designing in the valley. More than a dozen educational institutions including Shahi Design Academy, Kantipur International College, IEC School of Art and Fashion, International Institute of Fashion Design, are providing interior designing classes.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/fcs1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 483px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Rise in Sales</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Improved Internet access and increased financial standing for travelling has provided Nepali youngsters with easy access to designs from all over the world. They use the Internet to search various interior designs for their homes and due to this homework, they know exactly what they want. High-end furniture like the leather sofas, waterproof furniture for outdoors, and walk in closets are particularly popular among this age-group and the premium price tag does not seem to discourage them.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	With rising purchasing power and more sophisticated tastes, interior decor is no longer about practicality for most middle-class Nepalis. Along with employment opportunities in this sector, demand for raw material for interior designing has also increased to a great extent. Nepal Furniture and Furnishing Association&rsquo;s (NFFA) records show that furniture and furnishing material of around Rs 7-8 billion is used annually in Nepal. &nbsp;Krishna Lal Pradhan, NFFA President said, &ldquo;Of it Rs 4 billion is consumed only by flooring and furnishing materials.&rdquo; He said that increased interest in interior deigning, has directly contributed to the 15 per cent annual growth of this sector. Pradhan assumes, &ldquo;If the interest level of customer towards this sector retains its intensity, furniture and flooring business will double soon.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Raw Material</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal imports flooring materials from Germany, Canada, Belgium, India, and China. Major countries from where furnishing materials are imported are the Netherlands and Switzerland. &nbsp;Nepal itself also has some facilities that produce furnishing related products.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Traders say that the sales of these materials are largely in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Hundreds of boutique furniture outlets also have mushroomed across the Valley providing clients with numerous choices to choose from local, imported, contemporary, and antique furniture and furnishing goods. Most showrooms have mock ups, or model structures like the one above to simplify decision-making for the consumers. If buyers still feel lost, in-house interior designers work out and come up with customised plans that suit their budget and space.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Increasing Employment</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The increasing construction of apartments, increment in economic transaction and change in the trends of life have increased the employment opportunities in the interior designing sector. According to the statistics of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, around 40,000 new houses are being constructed annually. Similarly, the trend of construction of house outside the valley is also increasing rapidly. The construction of offices, departmental stores, apartments, and housing has helped in expansion of this business.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In order to attract customers, sanitary ware, furniture, and paint companies hire interior designing professionals to provide interior designing service. This has broadened the employment scope for interior designers. Along with competition, the earning in this sector is also increasing.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/fcs2%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 486px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Attraction of people</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Hectic modern life schedule leaves many Nepalis with lesser time or energy to take care of their homes. As a result, bulky wooden furniture that take weeks to make and assemble are being replaced by easy to assemble and dismantle, light-weight furniture. And despite their higher costs, people are opting for parquet flooring instead of rugs and carpets considering the strenuous maintenance efforts the latter need to upkeep.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	House owners and residents are inclined towards decorating and managing small places and making them attractive, comfortable and cozy. Professionals with busy schedule, are attracted towards services of this sector for their office space and home space.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Though employment opportunities in this sector are increasing, uniformity in this subject&rsquo;s education system has not been seen yet. CTEVT and Tribhuwan University have not prepared any curriculum on this subject. Institutions that provide courses on the subject have self-styled syllabus. This has led to the production of manpower with different potentiality and standards in this sector. This has created problems for skilled manpower to get employed easily.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Similarly, a commonly held notion that interior designing is costly has hindered many aspirants to join the field. Lack of government initiative to create employment opportunities for professionals of this sector is another setback.</div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2013-12-24',
			'modified' => '2013-12-31',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'For years, the beauty of Nepali homes remained only skin deep. Urban Nepalis beautified the exteriors of their houses, but neglected the interiors. Today’s middle-class Nepalis, however, are not only paying greater attention to interiors but demanding simple, smart decor that is durable and easy to maintain. At the start of the new millennium, bright coloured walls and long curtains became popular and turned into immediate status symbols.',
			'sortorder' => '2185',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2293',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Domestic Footwear Brands Dominate Market',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Nepali footwear products have been dominating the domestic market in the recent years. While the consumers have shown interest in using international brand designer shoes, their interest is growing also in made-in-Nepal. Manufacturers claim that locally made shoes account for more than 50 percent of the sales.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	A corresponding growth has been seen in footwear factories too. There are presently around 10 medium-scale footwear factories across the country. Nepali customers are gradually getting attracted towards shoes produced in Nepal for design, and durability of the shoes.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;There has been a healthy growth in the number of &nbsp;buyers for locally manufactured footwear,&rdquo; Ram Krishna Prashain, said Managing Director of Shikhar Shoes, one of the prominent names in the domestic footwear market,. &ldquo;This has been possible due to adaptation of advanced manufacturing technologies, delivery of quality products and keeping up with the expectation of customers,&rdquo; he added. &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Present Status of the Market</strong></span></div>
<div>
	According to Prashain, the domestic market is witnessing a change in the buying pattern of customers. &ldquo;Slowly and steadily, we are seeing more and more people who used to prefer branded products from foreign countries coming to us. And once they use our products, they become regular customers,&rdquo; said Prashain. He added that the company is planning to roll out a new premium brand targeting high-end customers in the near future. &ldquo;Currently, we are carrying out a feasibility study. If we get positive results, we will install a new plant,&rdquo; he said. Products from Shikhar Shoes are priced between &nbsp;Rs 350 andRs 4,000.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Base Footwear, manufacturer of &lsquo;BF dear hill&rsquo; brand of footwear and another prominent player in the domestic market, has also been witnessing enormous success. &ldquo;Almost all the multi-branded footwear stores across the country now feature products from at least one of the domestic brands,&rdquo; said Hom Nath Upadhyay, Managing Director of Base Footwear. He added that the company&rsquo;s annual production comes to 150,000-200,000 pairs. Its products are priced in the range of Rs 450 - Rs 3,500. Base Footwear products range from school and college shoes to party shoes, casual shoes and sports shoes. The company has recently started manufacturing football boots also.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	When asked about the raw material, Upadhyay informs that polyvinyl chloride, and thermoylae rubbers around 80 per cent of Nepal&rsquo;s leather requirement is fulfilled by imports from Thailand, China and India, while 20 per cent is produced in Nepal itself. The other major raw material such as polyurifine, polyvinyl chloride, and thermopoly rubbers too are imported. Upadhyay said that domestic products presently occupy 55 per cent of the Nepali leather goods and footwear market. He is optimistic that the domestic brands will occupy more share of the market in the days ahead as demand for these products continues to surge due to comparatively affordable prices than imported products while the quality of the domestic products is comparable with the imported ones. In fact, while the leather used in the Nepal-made shoes is genuine, the imported shoes may be using imitate on leather which is difficult for the ordinary people to identify. He said, &ldquo;In terms of price, our competition is with those imports that use fake international brand names.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	People usually buy the Chinese-made &ldquo;international brands&rdquo; which are not as good as the authentic brands. They bear the logos of popular international brands, but they are counterfeit products. Claiming that the domestic footwear manufacturers are offering better affordability, better quality and better designs than the Chinese imitations, Upadhyay encourages consumers to buy domestic products instead of running behind so called branded and designers&rsquo; products. He said, &ldquo;People have to understand that they can have Nepali genuine products for the same price that they pay for those fake products.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The domestic footwear makers has started manufacturing sports and casual shoes as well while till recently they were producing mainly for school children. Manufacturers say that increasing buyer confidence had inspired them to try their hand at new products. &ldquo;We are now planning to expand the product line-up in the casual and sports series,&rdquo; said Prashain. &ldquo;We are about to install a new plant to manufacture ladies footwear. We are in the final stages of our preparation to produce rubber boots.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Imported Raw Materials</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Eighty percent of the raw material is imported. And 40 per cent of it comes from China, 30 per cent from India and the remaining from other nations. At present, Nepal produces only 20 per cent of the raw material the industry needs.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	According to a survey conducted by Leather Footwear and Goods Manufacturers&rsquo; Association Nepal (LFGMAN) an average single Nepali spends Rs 2500 annually on shoes. Hom Nath Upadhyay, also the President of LFGMAN said, &ldquo;That means, when you think about the entire population, the annual spending of Nepali population on shoes is huge. If Nepali products are promoted, we can prevent that money from going outside the country.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;&ldquo;We are looking forward to be self-dependent in leather goods and footwear. If we can achieve that, it will be very helpful to the economy. Besides, this will create more employment opportunities in Nepal itself,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/fc1%20(Copy)(2).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 318px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems &amp; Challenges&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Despite having deeper penetration in the domestic footwear market, Nepali shoe manufacturers claim that they could do even better if their concerns are addressed properly. Unfair customs duty on raw materials and unavailability of skilled manpower are their major concerns, which if addressed by the government, they say, could enable them to outshine foreign products in the domestic market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Upadhyay said that shortage of skilled and efficient manpower has been the major problem in this sector.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Energy crisis is another challenge for us. We don&rsquo;t have local industries that produce raw material for our industry. Even in case of imported raw material, we do not have sufficient supply,&rdquo; &nbsp; he said. Moreover, &nbsp;some of these raw material are heavily taxed making the final products expensive.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Elaborating further on their concerns, he said undeterred huge import of Chinese counterfeit products is another major problem. &ldquo;If such import is discouraged, Nepali brands will have a better market,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Sharing his experience of retaining the market, he said &ldquo;We have to look for new designs and trends continuously. Shoes go out of fashion very soon and we have to tap trending designs to retain our customers. This includes updating our manufacturing technology and marketing patterns. We just have to be moving, and we cannot rest. This makes it a tough job,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Stressing on the role of government for the promotion of the footwear market in Nepal, Upadhyay said, &ldquo;The government should give more priority to this sector and create favourable environment for it. This sector makes use of Nepali skill and labour. There is no foreign investment here, so we can say we are a true Nepali business sector.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;People should show their love to domestic products by giving them a try. We need more support and feedback from our customers to serve them better products in the days to come.&rdquo;</div>',
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			'created' => '2013-12-17',
			'modified' => '2013-12-23',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Nepali footwear products have been dominating the domestic market in the recent years. While the consumers have shown interest in using international brand designer shoes, their interest is growing also in made-in-Nepal. Manufacturers claim that locally made shoes account for more than 50 percent of the sales.',
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2252',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Sanitary Ware Business Generating Employment',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	While families spend huge part of their income to furnish and decorate bedrooms and living rooms, bathrooms were usually an afterthought, tucked away in a dark aloof corner of the house. Urban Nepali have been realizing the importance of hygienic and airy bathrooms. People have started prioritizing bathroom locations and installing modern hygienic bathroom accessories. This trend has increased sanitary ware business in Nepal especially in urban areas.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Bathrooms reflect an owner&rsquo;s lifestyle. Having a luxurious, professionally designed living room can&rsquo;t create a good impression if your guest can follow his/her nose to the bathroom. &ldquo;Architects and home-owners are slowly beginning to give priority to bathrooms,&rdquo; Yogendra Bajracharya of Nepal Marble Bath House, which has been in sanitary ware business for the last 16 years, said. He adds, &ldquo;Urban Nepali are becoming increasingly conscious about design and use of space and are even willing to spend big bucks.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Variety of Stores in the Market</strong></span></div>
<div>
	With the awareness about hygienic bathrooms raising in the people, sanitary ware stores are also mushrooming in the market. Sanitary wares business is booming and some of these stores are making good profit.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Home Furnishers Pvt Ltd at Tripureshwor has all kind of branded fixtures and fittings products such as commode, wash basin, faucets, bathroom accessories, shower curtains and curtain rods, bathtubs, wall and floor tiles, electric water heaters and many more. The company imports brands like Mogen, Hansa, Ridder, Kaldewi, Justime, Navarti, Ariston and Dia Safe from Thailand, Germany, Taiwan, Spain, Italy and Korea respectively.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rajendra Shrestha, Manager Director of the company informed that sales increased by 20 per cent as compared to same period of last year. Targeted at high-end and middle high class customers, Home Furnishers provides warranty of 10 to 30 years. Corresponding to higher cost prices of the product, he says the high cost is justified by quality of the product.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Somany &mdash; an Indian brand for faucets, sanitary wares and tiles offers economic and luxurious range of products. Tiles are their most popular product in their portfolio and are sold mostly in September, Samish Maskey, director &nbsp;of Somany Studio at Koteshworsaid. Faucets, commodes, wash basin, Jacuzzi, among others are available at the store. The company provides 10 years of warranty on every product. Maskey informed that the company regularly updates their product range to ensure that their customers get to choose from the trendiest designs in the market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Bajra and Bajracharya Enterprises (BBE) at Lagankhel trades in a variety range of products of Kohler, Leno, Porcelanosa, CRW, Nova, Halcon, Kludi, Yojo and others in fixtures and fittings. Anuj Maskey, marketing officer at BBE, says that they have a wide range of products that can suit the needs of people from all walks of life. The merchandises at the store are imported from India, China, US, Germany and Spain.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	With a diverse range of innovative products, clients don&rsquo;t have to compromise on design and even smaller bathrooms can be cleverly utilised. &ldquo;Products like shower enclosures have revolutionised bathing and added elegance to bathrooms,&rdquo; Rajesh Budhiya of Rukmani International, said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Slippery tiles and sharp edges make bathrooms accident-prone spaces, especially for the elderly. Now new designs can be incorporated to improve safety. &ldquo;Coarse bathroom tiles made of non-glazed ceramics can be used to minimise slipperiness of bathroom tiles,&rdquo; Birbal Dugar of Dugar Iron and Steels, explained. &ldquo;We offer innovative taps which automatically set the water temperature below 400 degree Celcius,&rdquo; Budhiya added.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Hygienic and easy&ndash;to-clean facilities are also widely available. &ldquo;Rust proof PVC pipes which donot allow bacteria to breed inside their inner surfaces are very popular these days,&rdquo; BijayaRai of Mangalam industries, says.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Price of Sanitary ware</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Sanitary ware stores in the capital offer an extensive range of products in contemporary designs with high safety features, catering to the demands of urban homes. While durability is still the most important factor, store owners say customers now think about aesthetics as well. &ldquo;Most of our customers&rsquo; still look for the mid ranged sanitary products and prefer durability over style,&rdquo; Sanjay Kedia of Rajesh Sanitary Ware said. However there is gradual rise in the demand for high end goods like Jacuzzis, steam cabin and shower enclosures.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The product range of sanitary wares varies from company to company according to quality and preferences of the customers. Sanitary stores in Kathmandu mostly target high and middle class people as their customers.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The price of sanitary wares at Home Furnishers Pvt Ltd ranges from Rs 23,500 to Rs 85,000, while faucets are priced at Rs 12,700 to Rs 53,000. Their anti-bacteria and machine washable shower curtains and curtain rods from Ridder brands are priced between Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,700. The steel ceramic enamel bathtub cost between Rs 35,000 to Rs 38,000.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The faucets at Somany Studio are priced between Rs 2,000 to Rs 60,000 while commodes are cost Rs 8,000 to Rs 150,000. The price of wash basins available at the store range from Rs 2,100 up to Rs 50,000 while that of Jacuzzi range from Rs 165,000 to Rs 250,000.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/fc1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 239px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></strong></span></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Employment Generation</strong></span></div>
<div>
	With the surge in construction of modern buildings, employment opportunities related to sanitary wares have been also increasing. According to the statistics of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), around 40,000 houses are being constructed in Kathmandu valley annually. Similarly, construction of houses task outside valley has also been increasing in same pace. This has been contributing to employment and income generation activities in this sector.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Indrakumar Nakarmi, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation officer at Skill Nepal, said that the internal re-structuring of houses also have supported to the growth of this business. &ldquo;An old-design house consisted only of a single bathroom but modern-design houses these days have bathroom in each flat and some even have bathroom attached to bedroom,&rdquo; he added. This has also contributed to the increase in employment generation activities.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Increasing Sales</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The real estate business had slowed down some years earlier due to various reasons. But it is recovering gradually nowdays. A corresponding effect of this business is also seen in sanitary ware business. Komal Mainali, Managing Director of Business Concerns Pvt Ltd, said that the sales of sanitary ware products have increased at the rate of 10 to 12 per cent annually in last few years.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Nepal&rsquo;s sanitary ware industry relies heavily on imports from China, India, Spain and Italy. While custom duty on bathroom installations is low, duty on tiles can reach up to 70 per cent.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Lack of awareness of the people outside the valley has been hindering expansion of the business outside valley, traders in the niche say. Along with that it has been hard for any brand to maintain its reputation in the market due to the unequal and unhealthy competition primarily triggered due to the mushrooming of sanitary ware companies in the market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rajendra Shrestha, Managing Director of Home Furnishers, says, &ldquo;Political instability, weak economy, stagnancy in real estate industry and decreasing purchasing power of the customers are factors affecting the sanitary ware business.&rdquo;However, traders are still doing good business due to apartment and hotel construction. Renovation of older houses that look for accommodating better furnished modern bathrooms is another major factor that keeps the trading graph up the hill.</div>',
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			'created' => '2013-12-09',
			'modified' => '2013-12-17',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'While families spend huge part of their income to furnish and decorate bedrooms and living rooms, bathrooms were usually an afterthought, tucked away in a dark aloof corner of the house. Urban Nepali have been realizing the importance of hygienic and airy bathrooms.',
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	(int) 14 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2211',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Furniture From Abroad Abounds',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	W<span style="font-size: 12px;">ith changing lifestyle and higher spending ability, demand for finest furniture, that make social statement, is growing in Nepal among city dwellers. Certain segment of urban dwellers, are increasingly getting interested in designer furniture for interior decoration of their house. As designer furniture is becoming synonymous to status statement, higher standards and better comfort is sought. This has led to the rise in import of international designer furniture brands.&nbsp;</span></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;&ldquo;Nepali market is gradually moving towards imported furniture as they are cheaper by almost 50 per cent in comparison to local wood furniture. Affordable pricing, attractive looks and suitability for interior design and adjustable fittings are reasons of growing preference for imported furniture,&rdquo; Surendra Kumar Sharda, Senior Vice-President of Nepal Furniture and Furnishing Association (NFFA), said while elaborating current trend in the sector. &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Though demand for designer furniture is increasing, a lack of investment in producing such furnitures within the nation is seen. &ldquo;Accepting the fact that furniture industry is moving towards greater dependency on import in the last five years, industrialists are not interested in taking risk by investing and establishing manufacturing units. For them imported readymade furniture trading is an easy and secured means of doing business,&rdquo; Sharda said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Customer Preferences</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Demand for imported furniture in the Kathmandu valley has been rising significantly with consumers getting more conscious about creating a unique look for their homes. The shift in preference can be measured by the fact that more than four dozen furniture stores dealing in imported products have been trading in the valley.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Furniture stores which started with a limited product range now are expanding their entire stock ranging from office furniture, to kid&rsquo;s special furniture along with sofa sets, TV cabinets and bedroom sets, to name a few. Apart from wood, modern furniture use various materials like steel, plastic, tubular steel, leather straps, laminates, glasses, molded plywood and synthetic wood to give a stylish finish and light weight.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Both local and Chinese furniture, have their own separate markets with their individual advantages and disadvantages. Locally made furniture is preferred for its durability and quality of wood. But when it comes to design, decorative options, purpose-fulfillment and affordability the market swings to Chinese furniture.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Responding to varied backgrounds and demands of customers, some furniture traders trade domestic and imported furniture. Their catch remains to retain customers by catering to their specific demands. Suresh Shrestha, Managing Director of Bira Furniture, informs that they include both local as well as imported furniture in their showroom, to fulfill demands of the varied customers.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Variety in Furniture</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Furniture stores across the nation today offer variety in furniture depending on custom needs, demands and pocket. With an assorted variety of designer furniture available at various price range, they are making difference when designing a house. No matter how low the budget is, these furniture still provide an unique and stylish look.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Various factors including availability of numerous designs and superior finishing has helped in raising demand for imported furniture,&rdquo; Shrestha said. Apart from this, competitive prices have played a crucial role in increasing sales of imported furniture, he added. &nbsp; &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Demand for local furniture seems a little down since the last two years. Possible factors contributing in it are lower growth in land transactions and real estate development, gradual influx and growing popularity of Chinese furniture in the market,&rdquo; Gobinda Timilsina, a Sales Representative at Varieties Traders, Kumaripati, said. &ldquo;The government is not sensitive towards the problem faced by the furniture industry. Despite huge scope, lack of everything is hitting the domestic furniture industry.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Domestic Furniture&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepali furniture industry uses saal, sisau, utis, and mango wood for the production of furniture. Other raw materials are imported from India, China and Malaysia. Size, quality and design determine the price. There are different varieties of furniture available in the market from sofas and beds to designate cupboards and office tables. The price range of local made sofa set starts from Rs 8,000 to Rs 46,000; cupboard starts from Rs 9,000. Prices differ depending upon length, height and style.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Traders said that the country&rsquo;s furniture market is worth around Rs 1 billion annually and that the industry is growing by around 25 percent. Most of the imported furniture available in the market comes from China. Traders said that Chinese furniture accounts for more than 80 percent of the imported furniture market. Furniture from places like India, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia too are popular in the domestic market. As for premium products, most are imported from Europe.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Imported Products&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Around 60 per cent of the furniture and furnishing products available in Nepal are imported. The imported goods include flooring, furnishing (except carpets), furniture and d&eacute;cor items. &ldquo;While imports have swelled over the years, domestic production is declining consistently,&rdquo; Kabindra Joshi, General Secretary of NFFA, said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	While overpopulation, triggered due to excessive migration of people to different urban centres in Nepal, has resulted in increased demand for furniture, domestic manufacturers have not been able to meet it. &ldquo;Decline in domestic production has not stopped people from buying furniture and hence, traders are increasingly depending on imported products to meet the market demand,&rdquo; Joshi added.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Manufacturers allege that lack of skilled craftsmen, power cuts, non-availability of raw materials and absence of a favourable government policy are major reasons for the decline of domestic production. They stress on the need of a proper government mechanism to boost domestic furniture industry while pointing to nation&rsquo;s volatile political environment as a crucial factor contributing to decline in their business.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Lack of qualified labour and skilled manpower is another reason why the industry is diminishing here in Nepal. Traders said that the trend of youth going abroad has created labour scarcity. If the gap is not filled sooner, this will result in bigger problems.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Similarly, lack of big factories which can produce furniture on large scaled and compete with products imported from China and other nations, in terms of production, price, and design has diminished market for domestic products. &ldquo;We are manufacturing in small quantities using traditional methods and that is not really sufficient to survive the competition,&rdquo; Sharda said. He feels that domestic furniture manufacturing industry needs technological improvement to survive the competition.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Like other industries, this industry also has been hit power shortage. &ldquo;We are also suffering from long hours of power cut. Power cut has hindered us to supply products on stipulated time. This has been a great set back for our business,&rdquo; Shrestha complained.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Mushrooming furniture trading shops and cut throat competition are a threat to the business.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Future Prospects</strong></span></div>
<div>
	An investment of Rs 20 billion has already been made in the domestic furniture and furnishing industry, Joshi said while informing that they &ldquo;are working on a strategy to approach the government and acquire its attention towards the welfare of the industry.&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Apart from the cultural and historical significances, traditional furniture industry can also be a considerable boost to the economy of the country, if it is runs smoothly. Joshi said that the domestic manufacturers, if encouraged and treated properly, have the potential to export, while fulfilling local demand.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;The furniture and furnishing industry can look for better days ahead as its products have positioned themselves as &nbsp;people&rsquo;s necessities rather than luxury,&rdquo; claimed Joshi. He said that housing and real estate, residences, office complexes, hotels and restaurants, schools and colleges and development projects are booming market for the furniture and furnishing industry.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Focus News" src="/userfiles/images/fcs%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 418px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>',
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			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'With changing lifestyle and higher spending ability, demand for finest furniture, that make social statement, is growing in Nepal among city dwellers. Certain segment of urban dwellers, are increasingly getting interested in designer furniture for interior decoration of their house.',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2728',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Nepali RMG Waiting For Its Revival',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Since quota phase out Nepali readymade garment (RMG) industry has observed numerous ups and down along with huge challenges but the government is yet to show serious concern for its revival. During the industry&rsquo;s heyday, the sector alone used to export RMG products worth more than Rs 12 billion but recent statistics do not show any distinct progress.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	According to the garment exporters, the industry is yet to see the light of day. Though there are queries for export orders and production but it&rsquo;s far below the satisfactory level. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s true that the industry is receiving queries from the international market mainly from the European Union but the queries and export orders are yet not satisfactory,&rdquo; Ashok Kumar Agrawal, general secretary at the Garment Association - Nepal (GAN) said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Full implementation of Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on January 2005 ended 40 years of quota based trade of textiles and garment. The expiry of the quota system has not only resulted in the drastic decline of the Nepali RMG export but has also led to the closure of manufacturing units.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Though quota phase out has affected our industry but we are still waiting for the government to lobby for the Generalised System of Preference (GSP) in the United States which used to be the top garment importer of our country,&rdquo; said Agrawal. According to him, though the GSP facility is available in EU, the quantity of order still remains low. &ldquo;We need the government support and special programmes for the revival of the industry,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Another major reason for this critical situation of the garment industry is insufficient commitment at the industry and policy making levels for responding to foreseen adjustment problems in trade without quota. &ldquo;We are committed towards capacity building and policy innovation for responding to the changed scenario through active coordination between private sector and the government&rdquo;, Agrawal said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	At present garment manufacturers are receiving orders for traditional readymade garments such as traditional stitching, designs and handmade embroidery. In midst of other troubles, the industry is also running sort of sufficient skilled labour force. &nbsp;Though comparative statistics of the Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC) show an increment of around 50 per cent in total garment exports in the past six months&rsquo;, exporters allude this increase to the spike in dollar exchange rates during the period. Total export of Nepali garment in 2012-13 was worth Rs 1.811 billion, which increased by 50.4 per cent with a total export of Rs 2.72 billion during the first six months of the current fiscal year, states the TEPC statistics.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong><img alt="Export of Garment" src="/userfiles/images/f3%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; width: 200px; height: 314px;" />Present Scenario of Nepali Garment Industry&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Exporters looking forward for revising GSP facility to the US</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The US GSP programme for Nepal expired on July 31, 2013, which has further hit the declining export of Nepali RMG to its top buyer: United States. However the garment exporters are hopeful that the government will take initiatives to revise the GSP facility. During the first meeting of Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) in the US, Nepal had raised the issue of GSP facilitation for garments. Nepali entrepreneurs had also underlined the need to revise GSP during the first joint council meeting of Nepal and US to clear trade hurdles.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Proper cash incentive scheme can create new opportunities</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The government has only fixed one per cent cash incentive for readymade garments. Earlier, it used to provide two to three per cent cash incentive. This amendment failed to encourage the overall export sector. Garment exporters, find this incentive scheme unjustified and call for revising it.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>The garment industrialist waiting for the inclusion of Nepali Garment in the NTIS revised priority list</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Failure to increase the export figures and lack of new markets for products in the NTIS priority list has raised concerns among the exporters about the advantage of being listed in the priority list. According to the exporters the government should have included readymade garments along with woodcraft and stone craft in the NTIS priority products. Garments, carpets, pashmina and handicraft products were defined as special focus area for export promotion. Despite having a large share in the total exportable products of the country and despite being recognized as product with comparative advantage by the Nepal Trade and Competitiveness study, readymade garments still remains out of the NTIS priority products list.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Search for new destination&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepali readymade garment has plans to explore Australian market as its new export destination. According to GAN, Australia already has been importing large quantity of readymade garments from India, Bangladesh and Srilanka and it can be a good opportunity for the country if the Australian market could be researched. In the past single market concentration has hurt the Nepali readymade garment sector and this fact has necessitated the diversification of market for its products.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Nepali Garments" src="/userfiles/images/f1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 362px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>',
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			'description' => 'During the industry’s heyday, the sector alone used to export RMG products worth more than Rs 12 billion but recent statistics do not show any distinct progress.',
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	(int) 1 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2712',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Silver Lining On Silver Jewellery',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>History of Silver jewellery</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal has a long tradition of craftsmanship in many forms like wood carving, metal craft, stone carving and, working silver and gold into exquisite pieces of jewellery. The manufacture of jewellery in Nepal is wide spread throughout the country since time immemorial. The production of jewellery is labour intensive industry that was based on caste and cultural heritage. It was traditionally confined only to the Newari Shakya and Sunar families, but nowadays, other castes are also equally involved in this occupation. The local demand of jewellery has traditionally confined to social and religious occasions and other ritual ceremonies. The arrival of foreign tourist has led to the mingling of the traditional heritage with modern foreign market taste. The filigree cuttings have made Nepali silver jewelleries peerless. The handmade production process has made it possible to spread over rural areas benefiting the rural mass.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Present scenario</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Once the poor second cousin of gold, silver jewellery has become a cool, contemporary style icon in its own right. &ldquo;The skyrocketing price of the yellow metal people from various walks of life are getting more attracted to the cheaper yet stylish silver jewelleries,&rdquo; said former president of Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers&rsquo; Association Tej Ratna Shakya. According to him, on an average around 100-150 kilos of silver is traded daily in the local market. Apart from the jewellery, the silver utensils are also on high demand due to the influence of Indian culture,&rdquo; Shakya said. He also added that the trading of silver products is increasing remarkably in the local market and the situation is improving in the international market too. Silver is used mainly in household and industrial purpose. However the trend of silver jewellery is also catching among youths here who are more attracted to silver bracelets, rings, earrings, bangles and pendants as their fashion statements.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<table align="center" width="100">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>
				<img alt="Customers purchasing silver ornaments at Silver Palace, New Road." src="/userfiles/images/f.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 550px; height: 374px;" /></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td bgcolor="#DDDDDD">
				<div align="center">
					<div style="text-align: center;">
						<strong>Customers purchasing silver ornaments at Silver Palace, New Road.</strong></div>
					<div style="text-align: right;">
						<em>Photos: Rukesh Shrestha/TC</em></div>
				</div>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>International Market Trend</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Following the laboratory certification system for the silver articles, the export of silver article is gradually moving ahead in the international market. &ldquo;Now we do not have problems while exporting silver products in the European market which is the major buyer of the product,&rdquo; said Shakya. However the government must actively look for upgrading the existing certification method. Nepali Silver Jewellery is one of the major overseas export products next to other handicraft products of the country. The number of the export markets of this product has crossed 30 out of which, USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Japan, France, Italy and Australia are the&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	leading ones.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Now Certified&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Introduction of quality testing certification for Nepali silver jewellery has averted possible ban for the products in European market on charges of having traces of restricted chemical &lsquo;Cadmium&rsquo; in them. The certification system that tests any silver product for this chemical and certifies it as quality product of the country has once again brought charm to silver products in the local and the international market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;The export of silver jewellery that was about to get ban in the European country has finally received a relief as now we have a proper certification system, which certifies the purity of the product,&rdquo; said Shakya. Earlier the European Union was mulling on banning the import of Nepali silver jewellery if the exporters failed to certify that the products were free of cadmium. Cadmium is a known carcinogenic substance and various studies have concluded that it is toxic. Long-term contact of it can cause kidney and bone damage. According to the silver exporters now only 0.01 per cent cadmium is allowed in the exportable silver products.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="NTIS" src="/userfiles/images/F1.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 300px; height: 525px;" />Initiative of Government</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS) 2010, put in place by the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies has prioritised 19 goods and services (7 agro-food products, 5 craft and industrial goods and 7 services) for export promotion in the next three to five years. Silver jewellery is one of the five craft and industrial goods on this priority list. German International Cooperation (GIZ) is one of those development partners, which have been supporting the government in implementing NTIS 2010. In consultation with MoCS, it has chosen two of the 19 products and services prioritized by NTIS 2010, namely medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPS)/essential oils and silver jewellery, to help enhance their exports.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Facts about Silver jewellery</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal&rsquo;s world market share of silver jewellery exports is about 0.2 percent. In the past few years, exports have been fairly stable and prospect for future export is generally seen as very good. Production costs are competitive and workers are readily available. Most major markets grant duty-free access to Nepali silver jewellery. There are also no any non-tariff barriers (NTBs) hindering exports of silver jewellery from Nepal, except that use of cadmium has resulted in ban of some items entering European markets.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Firms and companies involved in jewellery production and export are owned by private entrepreneurs and operate as small-scale/cottage producers. Firms normally outsource jewellery production to individual craftsmen who have in-house workshops. Annual production of silver jewellery in Nepal is 15 to 20 metric tons (MT) while the annual production capacity is estimated at 50 M. Silver jewellery is fully handmade in Nepal. Productivity and quality can be improved if production were further mechanized.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Monthly salaries of skilled workers in the silver jewellery sector is around US$100, which is less than that in competing countries such as India and Thailand. Almost all silver and 95 percent of gemstones and semiprecious stones required for jewellery are imported from India, Brazil, Thailand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and distributed by local importers.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	According to the Nepal Trade Integration Strategy 2010 almost half of the total production of silver jewellery produced in Nepal is supplied to the domestic market and the rest is exported. However, even those supplied to the domestic market are usually exported later either through resale to tourists or through informal exports. Poor business environment in the country has encouraged informal trade in substantial quantity.</div>',
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			'description' => 'Following the laboratory certification system the export of silver article is gradually moving ahead in the international market.',
			'sortorder' => '2565',
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	(int) 2 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2646',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Nepali Tea: Tea from the High Lands',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Nepal has a long history of tea cultivation, initiated with the establishment of Ilam Tea Estate in the hills of Ilam district in 1863 and Soktim Tea Estate in the plains. It is believed that tea plantation in Nepal started within the same decade, when it was introduced in the hills of Darjeeling, India.</p>
<p>
	First private sector tea plantation in Terai was established in 1959 under the name of Bhudhakaran Tea Estate. Government joined the sector in 1966 with the establishment of Nepal Tea Development Corporation. After considering the potential for tea farming in the eastern development region, in 1982 five districts of the region i.e. Jhapa, Ilam, Panchthar, Terhathum and Dhankuta were declared &lsquo;Tea Zone&rsquo;. However now days Tea is also cultivated in few other districts.<br />
	<br />
	Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board says that promotional activities to promote Nepali tea in the international market are inadequate even though it is listed as a priority in the Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS) 2010. This list includes the 19 Nepali products that have export potential. &ldquo;The government should be more concerned about its promotion in the international market so that it receives better market value and positioning in the international market,&rdquo; states the board.</p>
<p>
	<img alt="Tea Plantation &amp; Production" src="/userfiles/images/f3%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 225px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></p>
<p>
	The 2011 &ndash; 12 statistics states that the tea plantations which covers the area of 18149 hectares of land across the nation annually produces 18.3 million kgs of Tea and provides direct employment to 100 thousand people. Private sector actors in the industry comprise of small farmer as well big corporate houses that have large tea estates with tea processing factories and marketing mechanism.</p>
<p>
	<img alt="Tea Plantation and Production in Nepal" src="/userfiles/images/f1%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 237px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></p>
<p>
	There are 140 registered tea estates and 40 tea processing factories that produce 85 per cent of the nation&rsquo;s production volume.Some of these factories do not have their own tea estate. They process tea produced by small and medium tea farmers. This type of small holding tea estate farming is anticipated to flourish in the days ahead.</p>
<p>
	<img alt="Orthodox and CTC TEa Plantation" src="/userfiles/images/f2%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 174px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /><br />
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Packaging Industry</strong></span><br />
	There are two types of tea packaging industries operating in Nepal. First of these are the ones operated large scale tea producers who have their own tea estates and use the facility to package their products exclusively. Another type of factories buy tea products from national and international producers and package it at their own facility.<br />
	<br />
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Forecasts</strong></span><br />
	Presently Tea plantation is dominated by small holders. Future target is set to extend plantation to 40 thousand hectares with an expected harvest of 46 million kg of tea annually whose worth is estimated to be around 247 million dollars. This will generate employment for 102 thousand people in rural areas and is expected to boost up the rural economy, states the Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board.<br />
	<br />
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="Nepal TEa" src="/userfiles/images/f4%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 100px; height: 110px;" />Branding Efforts</strong></span><br />
	National Tea and Coffee Development Board has developed a logo in accordance to the provision of the National Tea Policy 2000 to introduce N e p a l Tea in the domestic and international market and create its niche. Half circle green background embedded by double red circle of this national tea logo indicates the eco-friendly environment of the tea garden; where a tea twig having two leaves and a bud flourish. Along with that the smiling and shining southern face of the Mt. Everest placed in the upper half portion of this logo signifies as the tea produced in the land of Himalayas. Two words &ldquo;NEPAL TEA&rdquo; placed within the diameter of the logo circle establish unfailingly as a brand that symbolizes &ndash; &ldquo;A symbol of quality from the top of the world.&rdquo;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-02-23',
			'modified' => '2014-03-03',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'There are 140 Registered Tea Estate which contribute 85 per cent of the National’s production volume. Nepal has 40 Tea processing factories in private sectors.',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2623',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'A Case Of Doctor’s Negligence An Appendectomy Gone Wrong',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Shriya Pant&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Timro thulo dassaa taryo.&rdquo; (It&rsquo;s a Nepali saying whose English equivalent would be &ldquo;it could have been worse!). I have been getting that a lot since I had an appendectomy on October 2, 2013. It is a straight-forward medical procedure that interns often perform as their first surgery. But this simple procedure has left me with nerve damage &ndash; a condition called Meralgia paraesthetica - that is both physically and mentally frustrating.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	And the worst thing is, after consulting numerous doctors, it turns out I most likely did not even have appendicitis. The pain in my abdomen was pain that can sometimes occur after one has had shingles &ndash; which many doctors and surgeons often confuse for appendicitis. Instead of asking me for my medical history, Vayodha Hospital went straight for the surgery route, and consequently, I am living with something that could have been avoided had they simply asked.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Through my personal experience, I want to highlight the questionable state of private medical care in Nepal -- bring to light the flawed medical system, from the attitude of the doctors, the way in which the medical staff were so quick to wheel me into the operating theatre, to how the hospital management were not open to compensate me for my resulting nerve damage.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Considering that the pain I had was not excruciating nor was my appendix at its bursting point, I would have expected the staff at Vayodha to at least put me under observation for a night. But instead, what I got was &ldquo;the surgeon is about to leave, what have you decided?&rdquo; This kind of pressure on the patient does nothing but enhance stress. Yes, the final decision was ours to make, but had the hospital informed, counseled and encouraged us it was not urgent and that ideally, it would be best to observe my condition, we would have surely followed their advice.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	A patient is not a medical expert; s/he expects proper advice and counseling from doctors or hospital staff. In fact, such advice and counseling should be part of the basic services they offer. Unfortunately, profit, and not patient care and relationships, seems to be their mantra - something that was apparent not only in my experience, but is characteristic of the larger private health care system.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In the insatiable quest to make money, hospitals are springing up everywhere in Kathmandu. Where some sound and caring medical advice would be sufficient, patients are being forced to undergo procedures that may not be necessary because they cost more, whether it&rsquo;s being forced to have C-sections, or other surgeries that should not be the first course of action.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	While I appreciate that both the director of Vayodha and my surgeon took the time to talk to me about my nerve damage, it was more procedural and neither offered to pay for physiotherapy or other alternative courses to help alleviate the pain (whatever that might be). The surgeon also stubbornly refused to admit that this kind of nerve damage could occur after surgery. Most surprisingly he did not even know what Meralgia paraesthetica was. Instead, he proudly claimed to have simply made a small incision and slid the appendix out within 10-15 minutes!&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The refusal from the doctor that he may have made a mistake is not surprising. We live in a country where doctors believe, and we reinforce this belief, that they are like god, who know best, and can do no wrong. This is further reinforced by the fact that in Nepal, there are no repercussions for not doing your job properly. Negligence accompanied by impunity is the rule of the game.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	I am one of the privileged Nepalis, being able to afford a private hospital and seek medical care. But I don&rsquo;t want to keep going back to our beloved recourse of mero dasa rahecha (It was my bad luck), or ke garne (what to do?). I don&rsquo;t want to leave what should be practical, scientific and technical solutions to higher powers regardless of the fact that a majority of doctors in this country seem to think they possess. And I don&rsquo;t want to remain quiet any longer.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
	<em>(Pant has an MSC in international Health Policy from London School of Economics and is a public health professional.)</em></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-02-18',
			'modified' => '2014-02-18',
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			'description' => 'In Nepali healthcare system, negligence accompanied by impunity is the rule of the game.',
			'sortorder' => '2464',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2616',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Health Of Nepali Ayurvedic Sector',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Although the use of modern medicine has been increasing over the years in Nepal, more than 75 percent of the country&rsquo;s population is estimated to be using traditional medicine. Ayurveda, Amchi, Homeopathy and Naturopathy are important traditional health systems that are in practice within the country. Among them, Ayurveda is the oldest and most popular traditional health care system. Dr Baburaja Amatya, Senior Ayurveda Doctor at the Department of Drug Administration said, &ldquo;Government has opened Ayurvedic Health Centre in every district of the country. This is indicative of the initiative taken by the government in the development of Ayurveda treatment system.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Increasing Scope</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Be it rural or the urbanities, people have been increasingly opting for Ayurvedic treatment, which can be clearly noticed in the comparative increase of sales and distribution of the Ayurvedic medicines this year. Dr Amatya said, &ldquo;People are gradually shifting their treatment system from allopathic to ayurvedic one and this is visible in the increase of sales of ayurvedic medicines. &nbsp;The sales of these medicines have doubled this year than that of previous years.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Increasing numbers of ayurvedic companies is another factor that reflects increasing use of ayurvedic treatment among Nepalis. There are 76 Nepali ayurvedic companies and recently some Indian ayurvedic companies are also being established in Nepal. &ldquo;Almost 30 Indian companies have opened their industry in Nepal promoting the national ayurvedic industry.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Abundant Raw Materials&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal has a special place in the history of ayurveda. It has rich biodiversity associated with its topographical diversity makes Nepal home to some 1,700 medical plants used in ayurvedic treatment.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Initiatives taken</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Both, the government and the private sector, has been investing and promoting ayurvedic treatment system. Gajendra Bahadur Bhuju, director general at the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) said, &ldquo;Nepali government has opened an ayurvedic health center in each district. &nbsp;Along with that it has established factories mainly in Butwal, Rupandehi, Birgunj and Kathmandu and some other districts.&rdquo; &ldquo;There are more than 100 companies in Nepal owned by government, private sector and foreign investors,&rdquo; he added.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Verification Measures</strong></span></div>
<div>
	DDA is the regulatory body certifying the production, distribution and quality control of the ayurvedic medicines in Nepal. &ldquo;The medicines can only be distributed to the market after it is certified as bacteria free,&rdquo; Dr Amatya said. He added, &ldquo;Similarly, the medicines are also checked for use of heavy materials like arsenic, lead etc during the manufacture process.&rdquo; &nbsp;An ayurvedic medicine manufacturing company should mandatorily acquire bacteria free certificate for acquiring permission to market its products. Amatya said the certification process has helped in increasing the quality of the ayurvedic medicines leading to the rise in credibility of Nepali ayurvedic medicines.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Export potential&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Demand for traditional medicine has been growing strongly over the last 15 years, especially in developed countries. As the land of Ayurveda, Nepal is a natural attraction for foreign consumers for alternative medicine. Adding to it, the resurgence of faith in traditional medicine among urban Nepalis after decades of domination of traditional health systems by modern medicine, seems promising.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	According to experts, main challenges in this sector include lack of resources and budget in government-owned health institutions, lack of medicines and equipment, lack of programmes that correspond to the need of communities; malpractices at the local level, lack of pathology and radiology services at district ayurveda health centres and lack of awareness among people of available Ayurveda services.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Amatya said, &ldquo;People still lack proper information about the usage, utilization of different ayurvedic medicines as a result of which its popularity is not increasing as expected.&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Steps to be taken</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Ayurveda treatment system has a long way to go in Nepal though it has abundant raw materials for preparing such medicines. Instead of exporting unprocessed herbs to foreign nations at cheaper prices, herbs should be processed within the country and exported at better prices. Maintaining international standards in the quality of human resources used and medicine produced are crucial for the industry to thrive at the international level. Similarly the government should launch effective publicity campaigns, aimed at nationals as well as foreigners, to highlight the effectiveness and benefits of using ayurvedic medicines.&nbsp;</div>',
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			'description' => 'Although the use of modern medicine has been increasing over the years in Nepal, more than 75 percent of the country’s population is estimated to be using traditional medicine. Ayurveda, Amchi, Homeopathy and Naturopathy are important traditional health systems that are in practice within the country.',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2582',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Chyangra Pashmina Regains Warmth',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Eliza Tuladhar</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	With the joint efforts of the government and the World Trade Organization (WTO)/ Enhanced Integrated Framework Trading Stories project, a project that aims to improve Pashmina product development and marketing, the Nepali Chyangra Pashmina is finally going to receive a new lease of life. Pashmina product is one of the major exportable products of the country but the export of the product started declining in the early 2000 when the international market started importing Pashmina products from Chinese and the Indian Market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The loss of reputation has significantly affected the Pashmina that was a very strong export industry for Nepal. In the year 2000, the industry had exported Pashmina worth Rs 15 billion but it has reduced to a mere Rs 1 billion currently due to the cheap fake products that keep the market flooded.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	However now with the support of WTO/EIF Trading Stories project the Pashmina industrialist are hopeful to revive its international trading and minimize the threat created due to the increasing number of export from the Chinese and Indian market. According to Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA) President, Pushpa Man Shrestha, the association is hopeful that the project will start from March this year. &ldquo;The project under the WTO/EIF Trading Stories is a three years long project which will be basically focused on showcasing, Chyangra farming, production of raw material, Pashmina manufacturing process and finally its trading process,&rdquo; said Shrestha.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The &lsquo;Pashmina Enhancement and Trade Support project under WTO aims to respond to trade related priorities in the Nepal Trade Integrated Strategies as well as to build sustainable local capacities and leverage additional resources from development partner pursuant to the goal. The project will contribute to achieving improved and increased export performance by at least 20 per cent. Chyangra Pashmina from Nepal is exported to more than 60 countries and the &lsquo;Chyangra&rsquo; trademark is registered in more than 40 of these countries.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Due to weak quality control and nominal productions of domestic raw materials, as well as lack of brand awareness of Nepali &lsquo;Chyangra Pashmina&rsquo; in the international market the export of Pashmina has been disturbed.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>History of Pashmina</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Pashmina is the finest inner wool that grows as layer at the very bottom of thick and coarse fibre of Himalayan goat, locally known as chyangra (Capra Hircus), living above 2000 meter from the sea level. Each chyangra does produce 90 grams of Pashmina once a year. It is extracted from its body either by combing or by cutting during January to February. Pashmina is one of the finest, softest, warmest and lightest wool found in nature. In fact, it is the best wool in the world. Pashmina is known by different names like &ldquo;Diamond Fibre&rdquo; and &ldquo;Soft Gold of High Asia&rdquo;. It is unparalleled in uniqueness and elegance to any other fibres. The main raw materials used for producing Pashmina products are &lsquo;Pashmina Yarn&rsquo; and &lsquo;Silk Yarn&rsquo; plus dyes and chemicals.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Pashmina in Nepal" src="/userfiles/images/pmn%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 260px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Production of Pashmina&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The production process of pashmina product generally includes weaving, dyeing, processing, fringing, tassels, embroidery, beadwork, printing etc. Nepali Chyangra Pashmina, one of the major exportable product of the country is &lsquo;the softest, exotically, delicate, weightless and the finest insulating fibre of the world with high potential for export to the European market. The outer layer of Chyangra is discarded and only the inner layer of fibre measuring less than 16.5 microns is specified for use as Pashmina. These extraordinary characters of Pashmina fibres have encouraged weavers to produce various types of wraps for warmness. The exquisite characters of Nepali Chyangra Pashmina have established it as the most precious possession. The Pashmina fibre thus obtained from the Chyangra are spun into thin yarn which is woven to make different types of Pashmina products like blankets, shawls, stoles, scarves as well as pullovers, cardigans etc.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Pricing of Pashmina products&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The price of Nepali Pashmina product basically depends upon its quality, ordering size, colour, design and size. Almost all of the Pashmina industries are concentrated in the Kathmandu Valley. They are absolutely export-oriented. However, it has been given the impression that as many as 5 per cent of its products may be consumed within the country. Pashmina products account for more than 50 per cent of the total export figure of the handicraft products. And it is the major export component under the handicraft goods category.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The number of international export markets of Nepali Pashmina products exceeds 40 out of which, USA, Italy, Canada, UK, France, Japan, Germany and India are the major ones.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Challenges faced by Nepali Chyangra Pashmina</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepali Pashmina industries need to import all the raw material. Pashmina Yarn and Silk Yarn are imported from China and India and Chemicals and dyes from Europe and India. It can be made of pure Pashmina yarn or by using both Pashmina yarn and Silk yarn in a certain proportion normally in the ratio of 70:30, depending upon the demand of the buyers. Fineness, softness, warmness, lightness, durability and craftsmanship are its inherent features. Shrestha also claimed that lower priced Indian Pashmina products have hit the market of Nepali Pashmina and has made it difficult to survive the growing price competition. Pashmina exporters also say that according to the international buyers, price of Nepali Pashmina products is around 30 per cent more than that of Indian products. Indian exporters can buy huge quantity of raw materials and have started their own spinning that has made their products more competitive in the international market.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Pashmina industries in the country&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	According to Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA) there are around 20 industries that have exports of around Rs one billion including exports to India. There are 300 Pashmina exporters registered at NPIA and out of them 20 have high production capacity and with good export figures. There are around two to four industries who also export Pashmina to India.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Pashmina was famous across the world for the past couple of decades but with the introduction of low priced and fake Pashmina wool, the original Pashmina industry is fighting for existence. However the product is gradually being reintroduced as the brand &lsquo;Chyangra Pashmina&rsquo;. &ldquo;We have tried to reintroduce the Nepali Pashmina with the brand &lsquo;Chyangra Pashmina; and we hope that the WTO/EIF project will give us much required support to move ahead with promotion and development of new products and improvement of the products that will meet the demands of the international market,&rdquo; said Shrestha. The association along with the government has registered a collective trademark &lsquo;Chyangra Pashmina&rsquo; and its logo in the domestic and international markets to get rid of fake pashmina. Chyangra pashmina is now a registered brand in 41 countries. The association has also applied for its registration in South Africa, Brazil, Russia, Taiwan and the UAE.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The World Trade Organization has recently developed trading stories of Pashmina to create awareness about the product and bring more opportunities for it in the international market. The Pashmina trading story includes each step of production &ndash;&ndash; from Chyangra farming to processing &ndash;&ndash; which will help create awareness about pure Chyangra Pashmina among the people in around 148 countries.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="10" width="99%">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td bgcolor="#E5E4E2">
				<div>
					<div>
						<div>
							<div>
								<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><img alt="Shawl" src="/userfiles/images/1%20(Copy)(3).jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 50px; height: 102px;" />Shawl</strong></span></div>
							<div>
								Pashmina Shawls are the most exportable Nepali product. It is loosely worn over the shoulders, upper body, and arms. Generally in Nepal it is used by ladies in parties and function, outings in winter season where as in the western countries female use it anytime as a fashion statement.&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><img alt="Stole" src="/userfiles/images/2%20(Copy)(3).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 75px; height: 90px;" />Stole</strong></span></div>
							<div>
								Pashmina stole is a smaller form of the shawl. Nepal is renowned all over the world for its finely woven Pashmina stoles. Stoles are mostly used by younger generation without wrapping. It covers the shoulders and falls down in front of the body.&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><img alt="Scarf" src="/userfiles/images/3%20(Copy)(3).jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; width: 80px; height: 100px;" />Scarf</strong></span></div>
							<div>
								A scarf is a piece of fabric worn around the neck for warmth. &nbsp;Nepal is well known for its finely woven Pashmina scarves. It is also one of the most exportable products.&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								&nbsp;</div>
						</div>
					</div>
				</div>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>',
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			'created' => '2014-02-10',
			'modified' => '2014-02-18',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'With the joint efforts of the government and the World Trade Organization (WTO)/ Enhanced Integrated Framework Trading Stories project, a project that aims to improve Pashmina product development and marketing, the Nepali Chyangra Pashmina is finally going to receive a new lease of life.',
			'sortorder' => '2426',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2574',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'MAN’s Past And Present',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	<strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Management Association of Nepal (MAN) was established in 1979 as the apex body of management professionals with active support of the corporate sector. As a national-level non-profit and non-partisan membership-based professional organization, MAN has been an important forum for developing management professionalism and for fostering a performance-oriented and socially responsible work culture in the country. It has a strong membership base of over 1,700 individuals and 180 institutions that are associated with various disciplines and sectors of Nepali economy and society.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	MAN is one of the founding members of the Asian Association of Management Organizations (AAMO). It has close links with a number of well-known professional bodies like the American Management Association (AMA) and All India Management Association (AIMA). These linkages provide MAN access to information on best management practices and techniques available in the other parts of the world. Experts have increasingly stressed that the ongoing processes of state&rsquo;s restructuring and transformation in Nepal should follow management development process for effectiveness and sustainability</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Organisational structure of MAN</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The General Assembly is the supreme body in MAN&rsquo;s organizational structure and is responsible for providing policy guidelines and directives. It elects an executive committee in every two years. The executive committee implements policies, approves programs and provides guidelines to the secretariat. A secretariat, headed by the Executive Director is responsible for the organization&rsquo;s day-to-day administration and management. MAN develops and delivers its services through active participation of its members.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Current MAN executive committee</strong></span></div>
<div>
	There are 19 members in the incumbent executive committee of MAN with Janak Raj Shah as its president, Uttar Kumar Shrestha as the first vice president, Gosal KC second vice president, Sushil Kumar Aryal as secretary general, and Shanti Laxmi Shakya as the treasurer. The remaining 13 members are Arjun Kumar Gautam, Dilip Raj Paudel, Prof. Dr Fatta Bahadur KC, Jeevan Devi Kansakar, Krishna Gyawali, Pratap Kumar Pathak, Pratik Adhikari, Rajiv Pokharel, Rameshwor Prasad Khanal, Saroj Kumar Pradhan, Dr.Som Prasad Pudasaini, Tikajit Rai, and Sushil Bhatta. Kaji Bahadur Dahal has been acting as the executive director of this association.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Awards</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Management Association of Nepal (MAN) started the MAN Manager of the Year Award in 1987 with an aim to promote development of management skills and to recognize best management practitioners. In 2002, the association also started felicitating outstanding Women managers with the Women Manager Recognition Award. In some exceptional case, the association also felicitates people who have made outstandingcontribution to management sector with its prestigious &lsquo;Outstanding Management Award.&rsquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In its earlier days, the association focused on financial sector as the recipient of its awards, but later on, it increased outreach and scope of the award to other sectors like hospital, music, education, corporates etc. The association is planning to felicitate civil servants from this year by introducing Civil Servant Award this year. &ldquo;We will select one of the government employees after proper analysis and confirmations from various sources,&rdquo; said MAN executive director Kaji Bahadur Dahal.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Annual activities&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Management Association of Nepal focuses on research, training, and education sector. &ldquo;Apart from research and training programmes we have our own management college where we try to produce more efficient management student,&rdquo; said Dahal. According to him, pre budget discussion programmes and monetary policy advisory preparation are some of the annual programmes done by the MAN. &ldquo;Most of our programmes are organized in association with international agencies,&rdquo; he said.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	One of the core activities of MAN is conducting different management trainings programmes for various levels, covering critical and emerging areas. It organizes around 100 training and workshop programmes, as required or requested.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Current activity</strong></span></div>
<div>
	This year, MAN is preparing to organizeManagement Development Scenario 2013 as part of its 33rd National Management Convention. Highlights of the programme include paper presentation on &lsquo;Political Management: A case of Nepal&rsquo;, presentation and discussion on &lsquo;Management Development Scenario&rsquo; and will announce recipients of &lsquo;Manager of the Year Award&rsquo; and &lsquo;Woman Manager Recognition Award&rsquo;.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>SWOT Analysis of MAN</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Strengths</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&bull;Expertise of members</div>
<div>
	&bull;Strong knowledge base</div>
<div>
	&bull;Good recognition in international level since it is affiliated to many organizations across the world</div>
<div>
	&bull;Has high level government as well as public enterprises executives as its members</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Weaknesses</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&bull;Unable to engage members from diverse sector</div>
<div>
	&bull;Majority of the members are government officials</div>
<div>
	&bull;Lack of sufficient products to sell</div>
<div>
	&bull;Knowledge as the only saleable product but unable to sell it to generate profits</div>
<div>
	&bull;Financially stable but not strong</div>
<div>
	&bull;Discontinuation of membership&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&bull;Members not able to give enough time to the Association</div>
<div>
	&bull;Insufficient infrastructure</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Opportunities</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&bull;Access and reach on both private and public sector</div>
<div>
	&bull;Growing demand for management research&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&bull;Growing popularity, though slowly, among public and private sector managers</div>
<div>
	&bull;Emergence of modern corporate sector</div>
<div>
	&bull;The organisation&rsquo;s college has a potential to start MPhil and PhD classes</div>
<div>
	&bull;Possibility to launch faculty development programmes related to management education</div>
<div>
	&bull;The Association can be developed as an authority on management issues for the country</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Threats</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&bull;Possible formation of organisations of similar nature</div>
<div>
	&bull;Emergence of competitors in research and educational services&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&bull;Perception as an organisation only for the government officials</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/man%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 604px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-02-09',
			'modified' => '2014-02-10',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Management Association of Nepal (MAN) was established in 1979 as the apex body of management professionals with active support of the corporate sector. As a national-level non-profit and non-partisan membership-based professional organization, MAN has been an important forum for developing management professionalism and for fostering a performance-oriented and socially responsible work culture in the country',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2528',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Generators: A Biz Thriving Under Loadshedding',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Madan Lamichhane</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The increase in load shedding hours and dip in temperature have created double whammy for generators market. In the past years, non-branded generators with low capacity were high on demand. But, now, people are inclined towards branded generators. Thus, the demand for branded generators is increasing day by day.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The generator market is on rise mainly because of the rise in the loadshedding hours. Prior to loadshedding, generators were used for backup only. But, due to current energy crisis, generators are being used as an alternative source of energy. The present Nepali market consists of four kinds of generators that run on deisel, petrol, gas and kerosene.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Branded Vs Non-Branded generators</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Previously, customers prefered non-branded generators due to its low cost. However, in the recent days, people are aware about the quality of the generators which is one of the main reason for the increasing demand for generators. According to Vishal Gadia, Executive Director of Morang Auto Works Engineering Pvt Ltd., increasing awareness among people about the &nbsp;lifespan of the generators, fuel consumption, servicing and facilities of branded generators has caused a decline in the sales of non-branded generators. However, the share of low capacity generators in the Nepali market in the non-branded segment is also significant. &nbsp;Gadia estimates the market share of the non-branded generators with a capacity between one to &nbsp;20 KVA to be around fifty per cent. However, in comparison to the fast few years, the use of such generators has been decreasing, he adds.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Even though branded generators require huge amount of investment, because of its quality it is highly demanded,&rdquo; says Nirmal Bogati, Director of Subha Kamal Global Business Hub Pvt Ltd.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In the recent years, generators have become compulsion in housing, departmental stores, offices and factories. Due to its increasing demand, there are varieties of generators available in the market from various brands of different capacities. However, in the past three years, the market of generator has remained stable because of its long lifespan. &ldquo;Generators are equipments that need not be bought time and again and thus the market is stable,&rdquo; says Bogati.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The market consists of different sized generators, ranging from portable generators to big heavy generators. &ldquo;Generators of different sizes are brought in the market depending on the customer&rsquo;s demand,&rdquo; says Bandhan Karki, Manager of Syakar Company Ltd. &nbsp;Syakar Company recently launched portable Honda generators. &ldquo;Such portable generators are useful for trekkers,&rdquo; adds Karki.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The increasing load shedding hours and the restriction on imports of inverters by the government has compelled the consumers to be dependent on generators. The Ministry of Energy had restricted imports of inverters in 2066 with the aim of decreasing loadshedding in Nepal.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Loadshedding directly affects the sales of low capacity generators. According to Gadia, the sale of generators with a capacity of 20 KVA is increasing because of long hours of loadshedding. If the loadshedding hours were less, &nbsp;consumers would have used lower capacity generators. This could decrease the sales of generators below 20 KVA capacity.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Market Competition</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&ldquo;The generators with 1 to 20 KVA capacity make up 75 per cent of the market share&rdquo;, says Gadia. In comparsion to big generators, small ones are demanded more because of their relatively low price. The market competition is based on the features of the generators. As such, the competition between companies is based on fuel consumption, operation cost, customer service, availability of spare parts and price of the generators. Consumers&rsquo; awareness about low quality generators has created competition based on service, incentives and quality. This has led to the downfall of the non-branded generators as consumers are being aware about their pitfalls.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Brands sold in Nepal</strong></span></div>
<div>
	There are one hundred generator distributors in Kathmandu alone. Some of the recognized generators in Nepal are- Honda, Yamaha, Kirloskar, Kohler, SDS and Greaves. 80 per cent of the branded generators are used in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Narayanghat while the remaining 20 per cent is used in other cities. &nbsp;As there is no basis to expect reduction in loadhshedding hours for the next 5 years, energy experts have said that generators are the best alternative to meet the energy crisis.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Types of generator engines</strong></span></div>
<div>
	There are basically two types of generators available in the market-water cooled engines and air cooled engines. Many entrepreneurs believe that water cooled generators are more effective in comparison to air cooled ones. Water cooled are relatively cheaper and have a longer life span.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In the recent times, the generators that are assembled in Nepal are gaining popularity. But, entrepreneurs suggest consumers to opt for branded generators because these come with warranty and other facilities. Similarly, the engines of branded generators are covered. These generators are safe to use and are sound proof. In India, generators lacking &lsquo;sound proof&rsquo; facility are banned.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Generators" src="/userfiles/images/fc1%20(Copy)(5).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 166px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Generators everywhere</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Though branded generators require huge amount of investment, customers&rsquo; preference for them &nbsp;have made them dominent in the market. Likewise, entrepreneurs believe that some of the latest Chinese generators available in the market are also good in terms of quality. Due to lack of domestic production of generators, many entrepreneurs have established themselves as authorized distributors of foreign branded generators.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Problems</strong></span></div>
<div>
	For the imports of small generators of 10 KVA capacity, 25 per cent custom duty has to be paid. But, for importing generators with more capacity, only 1 per cent custom duty has to be paid. This is creating a big problem for the entrepreneurs. Because of the increasing loadshedding hours generators are demanded in every sector now . So, the government has to reduce custom in small generators because they are high in demand. If done so many people can afford generators.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Things to be considered</strong></span></div>
<div>
	After every hundred hours of use, generators must be given for servicing. Generators, being a matter of one time investment, have to be used carefully. Generators have to be kept safely and out of reach of children. Similarly, their engine oil has to be checked time and again.</div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-01-27',
			'modified' => '2014-02-13',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'The increase in load shedding hours and dip in temperature have created double whammy for generators market. In the past years, non-branded generators with low capacity were high on demand. But, now, people are inclined towards branded generators. Thus, the demand for branded generators is increasing day by day.',
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	),
	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2478',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Rainbow Trout Business In Nepal',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Rashika Pokharel</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rainbow Trout fish farming is a profit generating business, which has a wide scope in the Nepali market. Rainbow Trout, one of the many species of trout fishes, is a freshwater fish of the salmon family. Rainbow Trout fish have layers of red, green and blue colours glinting from their scales and get their name from this particular quality. This fish grows in cold and fresh running water. Climatic conditions of Nepal are suitable for the farming of this fish and correspondingly many entrepreneurs have capitalized on this fact. Nepali fish lovers have admired delicacies of this fish while appreciating various health benefits it has.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The fish is not native to Nepali waters. For the first time, it was imported for cultivation from Japan in 1988. Due to favourable environmental condition, production of this fish flourished since then. Recently, private sector has introduced new technologies for producing and packaging it. In Nepal, it is generally perceived that fish farming is possible only in the Terai region of the nation. However, recent developments made in fish farming techniques, has caused a paradigm shift in this sector. Now, Rainbow Trout farming is possible in Hilly areas as well.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rainbow Trout farming was first started in Nuwakot. It has been able to bring considerable changes in economic status of the farmers. Even though the fish if produced in multiple places across the nation, the production has not been able to meet market demands. The fish is available in few department stores in Kathmandu. And sometimes consumers are found to be importing it as well. Comparatively the fish is costly than other species of fishes available in Nepali market. &ldquo;A kg of rainbow trout fish costs Rs. 1400,&rdquo; says Rajendra Khadka, owner of Budanilkantha Riverside Restaurant, that sells this fish by producing in its own facility inside the restaurant premises.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>The Healthiest Choice</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Rainbow trout is rich in protein which helps to lose weight and retain lean muscle mass. It contains Omega-3 fatty acid, which helps to reduce blood pressure and helps to overcome depression. This acid also reduces risks of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, high blood cholesterol and certain types of cancer. &nbsp;It contains minerals, iron, calcium, zinc and vitamins including- vitamin B complex and Vitamin D. Delicious and readily available in most grocery stores, Rainbow Trout is also low in sodium and calories.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rainbow trout has comparatively low-fat level and is low in cholesterol too, which makes it a good protein substitute for meats like beef, pork and lamb that contain significantly higher amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Production</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Rainbow trout production is expensive. Rs 20 million investment is required to produce 10 tons of Rainbow Trout and Rs 10 million is required to produce 5 tons. The Investment can be made on the basis of producer&rsquo;s need and financial capabilities. Like other business field, this field has its own bottlenecks and risk factors. &ldquo;Rainbow trout production is not easy. The sustenance of Rainbow Trout farming is difficult to manage both in terms of monetary and labour cost,&rdquo; says Khadka.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Farmers buy baby Rainbow Trout and rear them until they grow to a standard weight. According to Kapil Thapa, Manager at Nepal Rainbow Trout Farmers Association, the standard weight of a rainbow trout for selling is 200 gram. It takes a year for the baby trout to grow up and gain this weight.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rainbow trout farming can be done in any season. However, &ldquo;The most favourable season for its farming is from November to April,&rdquo; says Mahendra Ghorasini, Central Vice-president of Himalayan Trout Association. The suitable temperature for an adult Rainbow Trout to grow properly is 10-14 degree Celsius and 9-12 degree Celsius for the smaller one. &nbsp;This species of the fish require clean, cold and continuously flowing water to sustain and grow.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Rainbow Trout farming is done by a very few farmers because its production is expensive as well as difficult. &nbsp;A single rainbow trout farm setup requires continuous flowing water, a cemented pool and a large area. Though this fish is popular, the popularity is limited to a very few selected groups and is yet reach the mass market. Due to high cost, the popularity is limited to upper middle and high-class people who can afford high costs for seafood eateries. One of the many reasons for the failure of this product to establish in the mass market is the lack of seafood eating culture among general Nepalis, some of which also perceive that seafood eateries are beyond their household budget, Ghorasaini says. Failure to obtain large market for the product has incurred losses to some farmers as sometimes farmers cannot sell reared Rainbow Trout in time.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Another reason behind the declination of rainbow trout sales is the lack of advertisement. &ldquo;We are not getting platform to let people know about rainbow trout,&rdquo; says Thapa. In lack of a proper platform to advertise and reach the common mass of people, the farming has received substantial setbacks in supply its produces.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	One of the major reasons for the high cost of Rainbow Trout in the market is the cost of the food served to this fish. Food served to this fish costs between Rs 130 to Rs 225 per kg.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Adding to it lack of technological developments, proper equipment, and experts the production of the fish has been affected. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have latest technological equipment that can make substantial changes in producing the fish on large scale,&rdquo; Ghorasini said pointing out the reason behind small-scale production of the fish.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>The future</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Despite the seemingly disinterestedness among urban and rural Nepalis for seafood, trends are changing. With more and more restaurants booming in Kathmandu and other urban centres across the nation and with consumers becoming more concerned about hygienic and healthy food, Rainbow Trout delicacies are expected to gain more popularity in the days ahead. Even though the fish is costly, increasing income level of consumers and the health benefits attached to this fish will help in attracting more consumers to buy it. Therefore, they are ready to pay a higher price if the food is nutritious and beneficial.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Future of farmers and entrepreneurs involved in this sector can be secured through special initiatives of the government. The government should assist in conducting researches and providing remedies to the Rainbow Trout fisheries and assist in coordinating with international communities for in sourcing technological advances made in this field. Providing subsidies on the raw materials used by this industry would further help in bringing the market cost of the product and thereby increasing sales of the farmers and making this healthy product available to mass consumers.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Rainbow Trout Business in Nepal" src="/userfiles/images/fn1%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 206px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-01-20',
			'modified' => '2014-01-27',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Rainbow Trout fish farming is a profit generating business, which has a wide scope in the Nepali market. Rainbow Trout, one of the many species of trout fishes, is a freshwater fish of the salmon family. Rainbow Trout fish have layers of red, green and blue colours glinting from their scales and get their name from this particular quality. This fish grows in cold and fresh running water. Climatic conditions of Nepal are suitable for the farming of this fish and correspondingly many entrepreneurs have capitalized on this fact. Nepali fish lovers have admired delicacies of this fish while appreciating various health benefits it has.',
			'sortorder' => '2336',
			'image' => null,
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2430',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Organic Farming Booming In Nepal',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Organic food is slowly getting bigger, both in terms of follower and producer, in Nepal. With the ever-increasing interest among urban Nepalis for organic food, various aspects of organic farming are also surging. Nepali are now more concerned about what they eat and how they are produced or prepared. Being aware of the fact that quality of the products consumed determines health condition, they are willing to pay for healthy food products. This is one of the major reason there is increasing demand for organic vegetables especially in urban areas. This is apparent when you see the growing number of restaurants in the Kathmandu serving dishes made only from Nepali organic food.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In the present context, population growth, coupled with the drop in food production, has led to the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and other high output technology to increase agro production. The inability of traditionally produced food to meet the day-to-day needs of the growing population has pushed farmers to adopt newer technologies and use chemicals in farming to increase production. However organic farming provides distinct benefits to its consumers and the environment. Despite other benefits that organic products have, Nepal has not been able to harness the potential of this sector besides few commercial crops that serve as examples of organic farming and organic products such as tea, coffee, honey, ginger, cardamom and medicinal herbs.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Steps being taken&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Organic agriculture sector is gaining momentum in Nepal. It possesses great scope for its competitiveness, as Nepal is home to many products, namely spices, essential oils and medicinal plants, fresh fruits and vegetables. &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The National Standard for organic agriculture has also been established and endorsed by the government, and working guidelines for two certification systems (Internal Control System and Participatory Guarantee System) are being developed, both of which will serve as an important instrument for taking advantage of the international and domestic markets. The latter is a certification scheme particularly for small farmers whose products are of high demand in the local market, but who cannot meet the high cost of certification.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<table align="center" width="100">
		<tbody>
			<tr>
				<td>
					<img alt="Farmers working in an organic farm." src="/userfiles/images/fc%20(Copy).jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 550px; height: 210px;" /></td>
			</tr>
			<tr>
				<td bgcolor="#DDDDDD">
					<div align="center">
						<div style="text-align: center;">
							<strong>The Organic Village Kathmandu&rsquo;s product range: Rice, lentils, jams, beans, honey along with different vegetables and fruits and dairy and meat products. Most of the products are grown in mountainous places like Jumla, Humla and Mustang. Some premium products of The Organic Village are Jumli Marsi Rice from Jumla (grown at 2500 m); Kalo Dal (black lentils) from Rasuwa (grown above 2000 m); red rice and yellow rice from Humla; frog meat (called &lsquo;paha&rsquo;). All together, The Organic Village gets its products from 33 districts of the country. It has recently begun exporting organic products of Nepal to the United Kingdom, the Unites States, South Africa and Qatar.</strong></div>
					</div>
				</td>
			</tr>
		</tbody>
	</table>
</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Organic Farms in Kathmandu</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Samir Newa, founder of The Organic Village in Baluwatar, Kathmandu and the pioneer of organic farming in the country said that the interest in organic food products, whether it is fresh apples or vegetables, among the medium-high class families is growing. However, he noted that some people consider organic lifestyle as &lsquo;fashionable&rsquo; rather than actually a way to promote healthy lifestyle.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;A majority of the people are still not aware of &lsquo;organic culture&rsquo; in Kathmandu itself,&rdquo; said Newa adding, &ldquo;Organic food is considered to be out of reach of the public as they are expensive and difficult to find.&rdquo; Similarly, a sample study conducted among 500 medium-class people in the Capital by Newa in 2011 claims that only 34 percent of the respondents had knowledge of organic farming and products. Of them,17 percent respondents partially used organic food products and only four percent completely used such products. &ldquo;The government has failed to come up with friendly policies and programmes to encourage organic farming that would protect public health from unwanted chemicals,&rdquo; Newa said.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The Organic Village was founded in 2003 with the aim of not only growing chemical free food, but also of creating public awareness about the benefits of organic food. The Organic Village is supported by development agencies like UNDP, Winrock International, GTZ, Micro Enterprise Development Program, Small Grants Program. According to Samir Newa, foods grown at high altitude contain less fat than those grown in warm regions.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Emphasis on organic agriculture at policy and programme level looks inadequate for its development and promotion. There is a virtual lack of government support to organic growers and marketers. It is necessary that marketability of any organic products, and that too at a premium price over the traditional and modern products has to be assured before starting the cultivation of organic crops. Mass production of organic products and the business volume for market sale are still invisible. Research work on processing and certification are weak and, in many cases, are missing.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Organic farming has its own shortcomings in Nepal. Poor technical skills and capacity in managing complex farm land problem, insufficient organic technology to support production, lack of research on processing and certification, poor investment capacity, small and fragmented land holding, and less risk bearing capacity among others are the key constraints at the producers&rsquo; level. Poor consumers&rsquo; awareness about organic products, quality and availability, lack of trust regarding the authenticity of the products, higher prices of organic products, impoverished market infrastructure are the constraints at marketers&rsquo; level.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Prospects and Possibilities &nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Organic farming holds out huge prospect in Nepalese context. Co-ordinated efforts among the actors are essential to boost it by meeting the challenges on the way to its development. Suresh Prasad Neupane, Member of Paurakhi Samudayik Krishi Sahakari said, &ldquo;Policy environment and clear long term vision and plan including research, extension, market development and commercialization of this sector are vital for the growth of this sector.&rdquo; Adding that organic industry is too small and has a long way to go in Nepal he said, &ldquo;Political commitments such as avoiding conflicting drive to maximize production, hammering proactive policy, initiating organic technology research, providing market incentives and institutionalization of Nepalese organic movement are imperative to further enhance organic sector in Nepal.&rdquo; &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<table align="center" width="100">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>
				<img alt="Farmers working in an organic farm." src="/userfiles/images/fc1%20(Copy)(4).jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 550px; height: 276px;" /></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td bgcolor="#DDDDDD">
				<div align="center">
					<div style="text-align: center;">
						<div>
							<strong>Farmers working in an organic farm.</strong></div>
					</div>
				</div>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>National level committees are formed for boosting organic farming in Nepal.</strong></span></div>
<div>
	<strong>&bull;<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>National Organic Agriculture Accreditation Body (NOAAB): It accredits and certifies organic products.</strong></div>
<div>
	<strong>&bull;<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>National Coordination Committee for Organic Agriculture Production and Processing System (NCCOAPPS): It helps in strengthening production and processing of organic agriculture.</strong></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-01-07',
			'modified' => '2014-01-20',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Organic food is slowly getting bigger, both in terms of follower and producer, in Nepal. With the ever-increasing interest among urban Nepalis for organic food, various aspects of organic farming are also surging. Nepali are now more concerned about what they eat and how they are produced or prepared. Being aware of the fact that quality of the products consumed determines health condition, they are willing to pay for healthy food products. This is one of the major reason there is increasing demand for organic vegetables especially in urban areas. This is apparent when you see the growing number of restaurants in the Kathmandu serving dishes made only from Nepali organic food.',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2382',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Bee-Keeping: A Source Of Employment Generation',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The value and importance of bees and honey have increased these days and beekeeping has became an entrepreneurial enterprise that has drawn many farmers towards it. Demand for honey has been increasing in Nepal and corresponding to it, its production is also rapidly increasing. Commercial beekeeping is becoming a reliable source of income-generation for some Nepali farmers.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;In the beginning of this business, one can earn Rs 5,000 per year. This income goes on increasing in the later years,&rdquo; said Raju Khatiwada, Proprieter of Namaste Mount Everest Honey Pvt Ltd. &nbsp;Khatiwada has been earning Rs 800,000 annually from 200 beehives. &ldquo;Initial cost of a hive is Rs 5,000 to 6,000. People may think this as low income, but as years pass by, the profit keeps increasing,&rdquo; Khatiwada added. Apart from buying beehives, which is a capital expenditure, other running expenditures are nominal and in the second year of the business, Khatiwada said that a profit of around Rs 15,000 could be gained.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	However, for commercial beekeeping, an entrepreneur needs to make initial investment of around Rs 400,000, according to Ganesh Basnet, President of Center of Nepal Bee-Keeping Cooperatives Association said. He explained, &ldquo;Commercial beekeeping should be started with at least 40 &ndash; 50 hives, as beehives have to be taken to different places for grazing and transportation expenses are the same whether you have 20 hives or 30 or 50.&rdquo; &rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Profit Generation</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Beekeeping business promises double profit to its entrepreneur within two years of starting the business. Nepal has favourable climate for bee keeping from Hilly to Terai region. Lately, commercial bee keeping is being done in the districts like Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Kaski, Palpa, Parbat, Kailali, Jumla, Sarlahi, Makwanpur, Jhapa, Sunsari, Morang, Surkhet, Kavre, Dang and Pyuthan. Bees are an important part of pollination. While they collect honey, they also play this important role of a pollinator that helps in the reproduction of plants and ultimately in maintaining ecological balance.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Estimates claim that Nepal has around 140,000 to 160,000 hives. Among them around 35,000 hives are Melifera and rest belong to the Serena species, according to Dharma Raj Shrestha, President of Center for Bee Keeping Association Nepal. Entrepreneurs claim that comparatively, Melifera breed is capable of producing more amount of honey in short span of time. Other honeybee species found in Nepal are Himalayan bee, Kathyauri and Ghar Mauri.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Demand Exceeding Production</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Honey entrepreneurs in Nepal have not been able to cater to the increasing demand of honey. Shrestha said Nepali market&rsquo;s annual demand for honey is around four million kg. But government statistics show that only 1.6 million kg of honey is being produced annually in Nepal. Cooperatives have been playing crucial role in the development of the honey industry. &ldquo;Around Rs 1.4 billion has already been invested in the bee keeping business conducted under cooperatives,&rdquo; Basnet said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The commercial bee keeping in Nepal started from 2051 B.S. with the initiation of late King Birendra following his visit to Europe. According to &nbsp;Basnet among total honey produced in Nepal almost half amount is contributed by cooperatives.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Demand for honey from educated families who understand the importance of honey is increasing,&rdquo; Basnet said adding that demand for honey from companies producing Ayurvedic medicines has also been increasing.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Lack of Laboratory&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal is rich in biodiversity, our bees feed on the nectar of flowers and fruits that are not available in many parts of the world but producers are finding it remarkably difficult to meet international standards. There is lack of proper laboratory for the verification of the quality of produced honey. Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) has been testing the quality of honey but honey verified by this department can&rsquo;t be exported in international market as its certificate is still not accepted by many importing countries, said the entrepreneurs.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	They said, &ldquo;The honey produced in Nepalis organic and its demand can highly increase in Nepal if the verification problem is sorted out.&rdquo; Shrestha said, &ldquo;Nepal government is not showing concern for promoting this business.&rdquo; He complains that various government institutions have been approving the distribution of honey without proper investigating its quality and adds that reasons like this have been rendering beekeeping business unsustainable.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Honey producers have realized that they have the potential of creating lucrative niche markets overseas through branding Nepali honey as &lsquo;organic honey&rsquo;, &lsquo;Himalayan honey&rsquo; and &lsquo;honey from the highlands&rsquo; but have been hindered in doing so due to existing set backs in the sector. Entrepreneurs claim beekeeping is yet to establish itself a commercial profession. Lack of proper technical knowledge in prospective beekeepers is another factor that has hindered the business from flourishing in Nepal. Inability to develop new species of honeybees and lack of a government regulatory body in the form of Honey Development Board, has been hindering the sector from flourishing. Presently the sector has been coordinated by cooperatives and establishment of a regulatory body is thought to be a crucial factor for giving it headway.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Though the government has introduced the &nbsp;policy of &lsquo;Bee-keeping for Livelihood&rsquo;, it is not enough for the commercial expansion of this business,&rdquo; Shrestha said.&ldquo;Commercial beekeeping can be conceptualized as prosperous business sector for the promotion and development of this sector,&rdquo; he added. He claimed that lack of proper policy facilitating commercial beekeeping has hindered honey exports to potential international market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="BeeKeeping" src="/userfiles/images/fck1%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 361px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Steps to be taken</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The most important initiative to establish the honey industry is to make beekeeping entrepreneurial. Though production capacity is steadily growing, there is a need for establishing a consulting mechanism and to prepare an action that would ensure that prospective beekeepers can easily access latest technology and resources for expanding their business.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Providing training on beekeeping and production of hives, tools and providing consultation services on the safety of bees, honey production, storage, processing would attract youths for getting involved in this sector and get self-employed.</div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2013-12-31',
			'modified' => '2014-01-20',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'The value and importance of bees and honey have increased these days and beekeeping has became an entrepreneurial enterprise that has drawn many farmers towards it. Demand for honey has been increasing in Nepal and corresponding to it, its production is also rapidly increasing. Commercial beekeeping is becoming a reliable source of income-generation for some Nepali farmers.',
			'sortorder' => '2226',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
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			'main_news' => false,
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			'user_id' => '0'
		)
	),
	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2342',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Elegant Interiors In Demand',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	For years, the beauty of Nepali homes remained only skin deep. Urban Nepalis beautified the exteriors of their houses, but neglected the interiors. Today&rsquo;s middle-class Nepalis, however, are not only paying greater attention to interiors but demanding simple, smart decor that is durable and easy to maintain. At the start of the new millennium, bright coloured walls and long curtains became popular and turned into immediate status symbols.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	House owners are attracted towards simple yet elegant designs rather than showy, colourful ones. &ldquo;People no longer want furniture and flooring that their friends or colleagues have. They want something unique, yet minimal and are willing to pay for it,&rdquo; says Arpana Baral of The Interiors. &ldquo;Simplicity and elegance are what people believe in and go for it nowadays.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Gone are the days, when construction of a home was solely considered as a great achievement by an urban Nepali. Interior decoration of the house has become a higher priority in recent years. It is believed that a house with perfect interior design can trigger positive vibes among the family members and can also create good impression on the guests.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Interior decoration is no more considered a luxury nowadays. It has become a necessity of urban life,&rdquo; said Sanu Raja Silpakar, President of Interior Designers Association of Nepal. He further added, &ldquo;Change in people&rsquo;s lifestyle, construction of attractive apartments and increasing economic activities have helped in the professional expansion of the interior design sector.&rdquo; He claims that almost 75 per cent of Kathmandu house owners buy furniture after completing interior design of their houses.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Academic Courses on Interior Designing</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The growing number of housing and apartment projects have supported the growth of professionals in this sector. Demand for professional interior designers in this field has increased the number of institutes that offer courses on interior designing in the valley. More than a dozen educational institutions including Shahi Design Academy, Kantipur International College, IEC School of Art and Fashion, International Institute of Fashion Design, are providing interior designing classes.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/fcs1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 483px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Rise in Sales</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Improved Internet access and increased financial standing for travelling has provided Nepali youngsters with easy access to designs from all over the world. They use the Internet to search various interior designs for their homes and due to this homework, they know exactly what they want. High-end furniture like the leather sofas, waterproof furniture for outdoors, and walk in closets are particularly popular among this age-group and the premium price tag does not seem to discourage them.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	With rising purchasing power and more sophisticated tastes, interior decor is no longer about practicality for most middle-class Nepalis. Along with employment opportunities in this sector, demand for raw material for interior designing has also increased to a great extent. Nepal Furniture and Furnishing Association&rsquo;s (NFFA) records show that furniture and furnishing material of around Rs 7-8 billion is used annually in Nepal. &nbsp;Krishna Lal Pradhan, NFFA President said, &ldquo;Of it Rs 4 billion is consumed only by flooring and furnishing materials.&rdquo; He said that increased interest in interior deigning, has directly contributed to the 15 per cent annual growth of this sector. Pradhan assumes, &ldquo;If the interest level of customer towards this sector retains its intensity, furniture and flooring business will double soon.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Raw Material</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal imports flooring materials from Germany, Canada, Belgium, India, and China. Major countries from where furnishing materials are imported are the Netherlands and Switzerland. &nbsp;Nepal itself also has some facilities that produce furnishing related products.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Traders say that the sales of these materials are largely in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Hundreds of boutique furniture outlets also have mushroomed across the Valley providing clients with numerous choices to choose from local, imported, contemporary, and antique furniture and furnishing goods. Most showrooms have mock ups, or model structures like the one above to simplify decision-making for the consumers. If buyers still feel lost, in-house interior designers work out and come up with customised plans that suit their budget and space.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Increasing Employment</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The increasing construction of apartments, increment in economic transaction and change in the trends of life have increased the employment opportunities in the interior designing sector. According to the statistics of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, around 40,000 new houses are being constructed annually. Similarly, the trend of construction of house outside the valley is also increasing rapidly. The construction of offices, departmental stores, apartments, and housing has helped in expansion of this business.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In order to attract customers, sanitary ware, furniture, and paint companies hire interior designing professionals to provide interior designing service. This has broadened the employment scope for interior designers. Along with competition, the earning in this sector is also increasing.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/fcs2%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 486px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Attraction of people</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Hectic modern life schedule leaves many Nepalis with lesser time or energy to take care of their homes. As a result, bulky wooden furniture that take weeks to make and assemble are being replaced by easy to assemble and dismantle, light-weight furniture. And despite their higher costs, people are opting for parquet flooring instead of rugs and carpets considering the strenuous maintenance efforts the latter need to upkeep.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	House owners and residents are inclined towards decorating and managing small places and making them attractive, comfortable and cozy. Professionals with busy schedule, are attracted towards services of this sector for their office space and home space.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Though employment opportunities in this sector are increasing, uniformity in this subject&rsquo;s education system has not been seen yet. CTEVT and Tribhuwan University have not prepared any curriculum on this subject. Institutions that provide courses on the subject have self-styled syllabus. This has led to the production of manpower with different potentiality and standards in this sector. This has created problems for skilled manpower to get employed easily.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Similarly, a commonly held notion that interior designing is costly has hindered many aspirants to join the field. Lack of government initiative to create employment opportunities for professionals of this sector is another setback.</div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2013-12-24',
			'modified' => '2013-12-31',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'For years, the beauty of Nepali homes remained only skin deep. Urban Nepalis beautified the exteriors of their houses, but neglected the interiors. Today’s middle-class Nepalis, however, are not only paying greater attention to interiors but demanding simple, smart decor that is durable and easy to maintain. At the start of the new millennium, bright coloured walls and long curtains became popular and turned into immediate status symbols.',
			'sortorder' => '2185',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
			'breaking_news' => false,
			'main_news' => false,
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2293',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Domestic Footwear Brands Dominate Market',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Nepali footwear products have been dominating the domestic market in the recent years. While the consumers have shown interest in using international brand designer shoes, their interest is growing also in made-in-Nepal. Manufacturers claim that locally made shoes account for more than 50 percent of the sales.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	A corresponding growth has been seen in footwear factories too. There are presently around 10 medium-scale footwear factories across the country. Nepali customers are gradually getting attracted towards shoes produced in Nepal for design, and durability of the shoes.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;There has been a healthy growth in the number of &nbsp;buyers for locally manufactured footwear,&rdquo; Ram Krishna Prashain, said Managing Director of Shikhar Shoes, one of the prominent names in the domestic footwear market,. &ldquo;This has been possible due to adaptation of advanced manufacturing technologies, delivery of quality products and keeping up with the expectation of customers,&rdquo; he added. &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Present Status of the Market</strong></span></div>
<div>
	According to Prashain, the domestic market is witnessing a change in the buying pattern of customers. &ldquo;Slowly and steadily, we are seeing more and more people who used to prefer branded products from foreign countries coming to us. And once they use our products, they become regular customers,&rdquo; said Prashain. He added that the company is planning to roll out a new premium brand targeting high-end customers in the near future. &ldquo;Currently, we are carrying out a feasibility study. If we get positive results, we will install a new plant,&rdquo; he said. Products from Shikhar Shoes are priced between &nbsp;Rs 350 andRs 4,000.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Base Footwear, manufacturer of &lsquo;BF dear hill&rsquo; brand of footwear and another prominent player in the domestic market, has also been witnessing enormous success. &ldquo;Almost all the multi-branded footwear stores across the country now feature products from at least one of the domestic brands,&rdquo; said Hom Nath Upadhyay, Managing Director of Base Footwear. He added that the company&rsquo;s annual production comes to 150,000-200,000 pairs. Its products are priced in the range of Rs 450 - Rs 3,500. Base Footwear products range from school and college shoes to party shoes, casual shoes and sports shoes. The company has recently started manufacturing football boots also.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	When asked about the raw material, Upadhyay informs that polyvinyl chloride, and thermoylae rubbers around 80 per cent of Nepal&rsquo;s leather requirement is fulfilled by imports from Thailand, China and India, while 20 per cent is produced in Nepal itself. The other major raw material such as polyurifine, polyvinyl chloride, and thermopoly rubbers too are imported. Upadhyay said that domestic products presently occupy 55 per cent of the Nepali leather goods and footwear market. He is optimistic that the domestic brands will occupy more share of the market in the days ahead as demand for these products continues to surge due to comparatively affordable prices than imported products while the quality of the domestic products is comparable with the imported ones. In fact, while the leather used in the Nepal-made shoes is genuine, the imported shoes may be using imitate on leather which is difficult for the ordinary people to identify. He said, &ldquo;In terms of price, our competition is with those imports that use fake international brand names.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	People usually buy the Chinese-made &ldquo;international brands&rdquo; which are not as good as the authentic brands. They bear the logos of popular international brands, but they are counterfeit products. Claiming that the domestic footwear manufacturers are offering better affordability, better quality and better designs than the Chinese imitations, Upadhyay encourages consumers to buy domestic products instead of running behind so called branded and designers&rsquo; products. He said, &ldquo;People have to understand that they can have Nepali genuine products for the same price that they pay for those fake products.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The domestic footwear makers has started manufacturing sports and casual shoes as well while till recently they were producing mainly for school children. Manufacturers say that increasing buyer confidence had inspired them to try their hand at new products. &ldquo;We are now planning to expand the product line-up in the casual and sports series,&rdquo; said Prashain. &ldquo;We are about to install a new plant to manufacture ladies footwear. We are in the final stages of our preparation to produce rubber boots.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Imported Raw Materials</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Eighty percent of the raw material is imported. And 40 per cent of it comes from China, 30 per cent from India and the remaining from other nations. At present, Nepal produces only 20 per cent of the raw material the industry needs.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	According to a survey conducted by Leather Footwear and Goods Manufacturers&rsquo; Association Nepal (LFGMAN) an average single Nepali spends Rs 2500 annually on shoes. Hom Nath Upadhyay, also the President of LFGMAN said, &ldquo;That means, when you think about the entire population, the annual spending of Nepali population on shoes is huge. If Nepali products are promoted, we can prevent that money from going outside the country.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;&ldquo;We are looking forward to be self-dependent in leather goods and footwear. If we can achieve that, it will be very helpful to the economy. Besides, this will create more employment opportunities in Nepal itself,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/fc1%20(Copy)(2).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 318px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems &amp; Challenges&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Despite having deeper penetration in the domestic footwear market, Nepali shoe manufacturers claim that they could do even better if their concerns are addressed properly. Unfair customs duty on raw materials and unavailability of skilled manpower are their major concerns, which if addressed by the government, they say, could enable them to outshine foreign products in the domestic market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Upadhyay said that shortage of skilled and efficient manpower has been the major problem in this sector.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Energy crisis is another challenge for us. We don&rsquo;t have local industries that produce raw material for our industry. Even in case of imported raw material, we do not have sufficient supply,&rdquo; &nbsp; he said. Moreover, &nbsp;some of these raw material are heavily taxed making the final products expensive.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Elaborating further on their concerns, he said undeterred huge import of Chinese counterfeit products is another major problem. &ldquo;If such import is discouraged, Nepali brands will have a better market,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Sharing his experience of retaining the market, he said &ldquo;We have to look for new designs and trends continuously. Shoes go out of fashion very soon and we have to tap trending designs to retain our customers. This includes updating our manufacturing technology and marketing patterns. We just have to be moving, and we cannot rest. This makes it a tough job,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Stressing on the role of government for the promotion of the footwear market in Nepal, Upadhyay said, &ldquo;The government should give more priority to this sector and create favourable environment for it. This sector makes use of Nepali skill and labour. There is no foreign investment here, so we can say we are a true Nepali business sector.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;People should show their love to domestic products by giving them a try. We need more support and feedback from our customers to serve them better products in the days to come.&rdquo;</div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2013-12-17',
			'modified' => '2013-12-23',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Nepali footwear products have been dominating the domestic market in the recent years. While the consumers have shown interest in using international brand designer shoes, their interest is growing also in made-in-Nepal. Manufacturers claim that locally made shoes account for more than 50 percent of the sales.',
			'sortorder' => '2154',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
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	),
	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2252',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Sanitary Ware Business Generating Employment',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	While families spend huge part of their income to furnish and decorate bedrooms and living rooms, bathrooms were usually an afterthought, tucked away in a dark aloof corner of the house. Urban Nepali have been realizing the importance of hygienic and airy bathrooms. People have started prioritizing bathroom locations and installing modern hygienic bathroom accessories. This trend has increased sanitary ware business in Nepal especially in urban areas.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Bathrooms reflect an owner&rsquo;s lifestyle. Having a luxurious, professionally designed living room can&rsquo;t create a good impression if your guest can follow his/her nose to the bathroom. &ldquo;Architects and home-owners are slowly beginning to give priority to bathrooms,&rdquo; Yogendra Bajracharya of Nepal Marble Bath House, which has been in sanitary ware business for the last 16 years, said. He adds, &ldquo;Urban Nepali are becoming increasingly conscious about design and use of space and are even willing to spend big bucks.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Variety of Stores in the Market</strong></span></div>
<div>
	With the awareness about hygienic bathrooms raising in the people, sanitary ware stores are also mushrooming in the market. Sanitary wares business is booming and some of these stores are making good profit.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Home Furnishers Pvt Ltd at Tripureshwor has all kind of branded fixtures and fittings products such as commode, wash basin, faucets, bathroom accessories, shower curtains and curtain rods, bathtubs, wall and floor tiles, electric water heaters and many more. The company imports brands like Mogen, Hansa, Ridder, Kaldewi, Justime, Navarti, Ariston and Dia Safe from Thailand, Germany, Taiwan, Spain, Italy and Korea respectively.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rajendra Shrestha, Manager Director of the company informed that sales increased by 20 per cent as compared to same period of last year. Targeted at high-end and middle high class customers, Home Furnishers provides warranty of 10 to 30 years. Corresponding to higher cost prices of the product, he says the high cost is justified by quality of the product.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Somany &mdash; an Indian brand for faucets, sanitary wares and tiles offers economic and luxurious range of products. Tiles are their most popular product in their portfolio and are sold mostly in September, Samish Maskey, director &nbsp;of Somany Studio at Koteshworsaid. Faucets, commodes, wash basin, Jacuzzi, among others are available at the store. The company provides 10 years of warranty on every product. Maskey informed that the company regularly updates their product range to ensure that their customers get to choose from the trendiest designs in the market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Bajra and Bajracharya Enterprises (BBE) at Lagankhel trades in a variety range of products of Kohler, Leno, Porcelanosa, CRW, Nova, Halcon, Kludi, Yojo and others in fixtures and fittings. Anuj Maskey, marketing officer at BBE, says that they have a wide range of products that can suit the needs of people from all walks of life. The merchandises at the store are imported from India, China, US, Germany and Spain.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	With a diverse range of innovative products, clients don&rsquo;t have to compromise on design and even smaller bathrooms can be cleverly utilised. &ldquo;Products like shower enclosures have revolutionised bathing and added elegance to bathrooms,&rdquo; Rajesh Budhiya of Rukmani International, said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Slippery tiles and sharp edges make bathrooms accident-prone spaces, especially for the elderly. Now new designs can be incorporated to improve safety. &ldquo;Coarse bathroom tiles made of non-glazed ceramics can be used to minimise slipperiness of bathroom tiles,&rdquo; Birbal Dugar of Dugar Iron and Steels, explained. &ldquo;We offer innovative taps which automatically set the water temperature below 400 degree Celcius,&rdquo; Budhiya added.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Hygienic and easy&ndash;to-clean facilities are also widely available. &ldquo;Rust proof PVC pipes which donot allow bacteria to breed inside their inner surfaces are very popular these days,&rdquo; BijayaRai of Mangalam industries, says.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Price of Sanitary ware</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Sanitary ware stores in the capital offer an extensive range of products in contemporary designs with high safety features, catering to the demands of urban homes. While durability is still the most important factor, store owners say customers now think about aesthetics as well. &ldquo;Most of our customers&rsquo; still look for the mid ranged sanitary products and prefer durability over style,&rdquo; Sanjay Kedia of Rajesh Sanitary Ware said. However there is gradual rise in the demand for high end goods like Jacuzzis, steam cabin and shower enclosures.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The product range of sanitary wares varies from company to company according to quality and preferences of the customers. Sanitary stores in Kathmandu mostly target high and middle class people as their customers.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The price of sanitary wares at Home Furnishers Pvt Ltd ranges from Rs 23,500 to Rs 85,000, while faucets are priced at Rs 12,700 to Rs 53,000. Their anti-bacteria and machine washable shower curtains and curtain rods from Ridder brands are priced between Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,700. The steel ceramic enamel bathtub cost between Rs 35,000 to Rs 38,000.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The faucets at Somany Studio are priced between Rs 2,000 to Rs 60,000 while commodes are cost Rs 8,000 to Rs 150,000. The price of wash basins available at the store range from Rs 2,100 up to Rs 50,000 while that of Jacuzzi range from Rs 165,000 to Rs 250,000.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/fc1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 239px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></strong></span></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Employment Generation</strong></span></div>
<div>
	With the surge in construction of modern buildings, employment opportunities related to sanitary wares have been also increasing. According to the statistics of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), around 40,000 houses are being constructed in Kathmandu valley annually. Similarly, construction of houses task outside valley has also been increasing in same pace. This has been contributing to employment and income generation activities in this sector.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Indrakumar Nakarmi, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation officer at Skill Nepal, said that the internal re-structuring of houses also have supported to the growth of this business. &ldquo;An old-design house consisted only of a single bathroom but modern-design houses these days have bathroom in each flat and some even have bathroom attached to bedroom,&rdquo; he added. This has also contributed to the increase in employment generation activities.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Increasing Sales</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The real estate business had slowed down some years earlier due to various reasons. But it is recovering gradually nowdays. A corresponding effect of this business is also seen in sanitary ware business. Komal Mainali, Managing Director of Business Concerns Pvt Ltd, said that the sales of sanitary ware products have increased at the rate of 10 to 12 per cent annually in last few years.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Nepal&rsquo;s sanitary ware industry relies heavily on imports from China, India, Spain and Italy. While custom duty on bathroom installations is low, duty on tiles can reach up to 70 per cent.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Lack of awareness of the people outside the valley has been hindering expansion of the business outside valley, traders in the niche say. Along with that it has been hard for any brand to maintain its reputation in the market due to the unequal and unhealthy competition primarily triggered due to the mushrooming of sanitary ware companies in the market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rajendra Shrestha, Managing Director of Home Furnishers, says, &ldquo;Political instability, weak economy, stagnancy in real estate industry and decreasing purchasing power of the customers are factors affecting the sanitary ware business.&rdquo;However, traders are still doing good business due to apartment and hotel construction. Renovation of older houses that look for accommodating better furnished modern bathrooms is another major factor that keeps the trading graph up the hill.</div>',
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			'description' => 'While families spend huge part of their income to furnish and decorate bedrooms and living rooms, bathrooms were usually an afterthought, tucked away in a dark aloof corner of the house. Urban Nepali have been realizing the importance of hygienic and airy bathrooms.',
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			'id' => '2211',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Furniture From Abroad Abounds',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	W<span style="font-size: 12px;">ith changing lifestyle and higher spending ability, demand for finest furniture, that make social statement, is growing in Nepal among city dwellers. Certain segment of urban dwellers, are increasingly getting interested in designer furniture for interior decoration of their house. As designer furniture is becoming synonymous to status statement, higher standards and better comfort is sought. This has led to the rise in import of international designer furniture brands.&nbsp;</span></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;&ldquo;Nepali market is gradually moving towards imported furniture as they are cheaper by almost 50 per cent in comparison to local wood furniture. Affordable pricing, attractive looks and suitability for interior design and adjustable fittings are reasons of growing preference for imported furniture,&rdquo; Surendra Kumar Sharda, Senior Vice-President of Nepal Furniture and Furnishing Association (NFFA), said while elaborating current trend in the sector. &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Though demand for designer furniture is increasing, a lack of investment in producing such furnitures within the nation is seen. &ldquo;Accepting the fact that furniture industry is moving towards greater dependency on import in the last five years, industrialists are not interested in taking risk by investing and establishing manufacturing units. For them imported readymade furniture trading is an easy and secured means of doing business,&rdquo; Sharda said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Customer Preferences</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Demand for imported furniture in the Kathmandu valley has been rising significantly with consumers getting more conscious about creating a unique look for their homes. The shift in preference can be measured by the fact that more than four dozen furniture stores dealing in imported products have been trading in the valley.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Furniture stores which started with a limited product range now are expanding their entire stock ranging from office furniture, to kid&rsquo;s special furniture along with sofa sets, TV cabinets and bedroom sets, to name a few. Apart from wood, modern furniture use various materials like steel, plastic, tubular steel, leather straps, laminates, glasses, molded plywood and synthetic wood to give a stylish finish and light weight.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Both local and Chinese furniture, have their own separate markets with their individual advantages and disadvantages. Locally made furniture is preferred for its durability and quality of wood. But when it comes to design, decorative options, purpose-fulfillment and affordability the market swings to Chinese furniture.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Responding to varied backgrounds and demands of customers, some furniture traders trade domestic and imported furniture. Their catch remains to retain customers by catering to their specific demands. Suresh Shrestha, Managing Director of Bira Furniture, informs that they include both local as well as imported furniture in their showroom, to fulfill demands of the varied customers.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Variety in Furniture</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Furniture stores across the nation today offer variety in furniture depending on custom needs, demands and pocket. With an assorted variety of designer furniture available at various price range, they are making difference when designing a house. No matter how low the budget is, these furniture still provide an unique and stylish look.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Various factors including availability of numerous designs and superior finishing has helped in raising demand for imported furniture,&rdquo; Shrestha said. Apart from this, competitive prices have played a crucial role in increasing sales of imported furniture, he added. &nbsp; &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Demand for local furniture seems a little down since the last two years. Possible factors contributing in it are lower growth in land transactions and real estate development, gradual influx and growing popularity of Chinese furniture in the market,&rdquo; Gobinda Timilsina, a Sales Representative at Varieties Traders, Kumaripati, said. &ldquo;The government is not sensitive towards the problem faced by the furniture industry. Despite huge scope, lack of everything is hitting the domestic furniture industry.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Domestic Furniture&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepali furniture industry uses saal, sisau, utis, and mango wood for the production of furniture. Other raw materials are imported from India, China and Malaysia. Size, quality and design determine the price. There are different varieties of furniture available in the market from sofas and beds to designate cupboards and office tables. The price range of local made sofa set starts from Rs 8,000 to Rs 46,000; cupboard starts from Rs 9,000. Prices differ depending upon length, height and style.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Traders said that the country&rsquo;s furniture market is worth around Rs 1 billion annually and that the industry is growing by around 25 percent. Most of the imported furniture available in the market comes from China. Traders said that Chinese furniture accounts for more than 80 percent of the imported furniture market. Furniture from places like India, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia too are popular in the domestic market. As for premium products, most are imported from Europe.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Imported Products&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Around 60 per cent of the furniture and furnishing products available in Nepal are imported. The imported goods include flooring, furnishing (except carpets), furniture and d&eacute;cor items. &ldquo;While imports have swelled over the years, domestic production is declining consistently,&rdquo; Kabindra Joshi, General Secretary of NFFA, said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	While overpopulation, triggered due to excessive migration of people to different urban centres in Nepal, has resulted in increased demand for furniture, domestic manufacturers have not been able to meet it. &ldquo;Decline in domestic production has not stopped people from buying furniture and hence, traders are increasingly depending on imported products to meet the market demand,&rdquo; Joshi added.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Manufacturers allege that lack of skilled craftsmen, power cuts, non-availability of raw materials and absence of a favourable government policy are major reasons for the decline of domestic production. They stress on the need of a proper government mechanism to boost domestic furniture industry while pointing to nation&rsquo;s volatile political environment as a crucial factor contributing to decline in their business.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Lack of qualified labour and skilled manpower is another reason why the industry is diminishing here in Nepal. Traders said that the trend of youth going abroad has created labour scarcity. If the gap is not filled sooner, this will result in bigger problems.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Similarly, lack of big factories which can produce furniture on large scaled and compete with products imported from China and other nations, in terms of production, price, and design has diminished market for domestic products. &ldquo;We are manufacturing in small quantities using traditional methods and that is not really sufficient to survive the competition,&rdquo; Sharda said. He feels that domestic furniture manufacturing industry needs technological improvement to survive the competition.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Like other industries, this industry also has been hit power shortage. &ldquo;We are also suffering from long hours of power cut. Power cut has hindered us to supply products on stipulated time. This has been a great set back for our business,&rdquo; Shrestha complained.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Mushrooming furniture trading shops and cut throat competition are a threat to the business.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Future Prospects</strong></span></div>
<div>
	An investment of Rs 20 billion has already been made in the domestic furniture and furnishing industry, Joshi said while informing that they &ldquo;are working on a strategy to approach the government and acquire its attention towards the welfare of the industry.&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Apart from the cultural and historical significances, traditional furniture industry can also be a considerable boost to the economy of the country, if it is runs smoothly. Joshi said that the domestic manufacturers, if encouraged and treated properly, have the potential to export, while fulfilling local demand.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;The furniture and furnishing industry can look for better days ahead as its products have positioned themselves as &nbsp;people&rsquo;s necessities rather than luxury,&rdquo; claimed Joshi. He said that housing and real estate, residences, office complexes, hotels and restaurants, schools and colleges and development projects are booming market for the furniture and furnishing industry.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Focus News" src="/userfiles/images/fcs%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 418px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>',
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			'description' => 'With changing lifestyle and higher spending ability, demand for finest furniture, that make social statement, is growing in Nepal among city dwellers. Certain segment of urban dwellers, are increasingly getting interested in designer furniture for interior decoration of their house.',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2728',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Nepali RMG Waiting For Its Revival',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Since quota phase out Nepali readymade garment (RMG) industry has observed numerous ups and down along with huge challenges but the government is yet to show serious concern for its revival. During the industry&rsquo;s heyday, the sector alone used to export RMG products worth more than Rs 12 billion but recent statistics do not show any distinct progress.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	According to the garment exporters, the industry is yet to see the light of day. Though there are queries for export orders and production but it&rsquo;s far below the satisfactory level. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s true that the industry is receiving queries from the international market mainly from the European Union but the queries and export orders are yet not satisfactory,&rdquo; Ashok Kumar Agrawal, general secretary at the Garment Association - Nepal (GAN) said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Full implementation of Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on January 2005 ended 40 years of quota based trade of textiles and garment. The expiry of the quota system has not only resulted in the drastic decline of the Nepali RMG export but has also led to the closure of manufacturing units.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Though quota phase out has affected our industry but we are still waiting for the government to lobby for the Generalised System of Preference (GSP) in the United States which used to be the top garment importer of our country,&rdquo; said Agrawal. According to him, though the GSP facility is available in EU, the quantity of order still remains low. &ldquo;We need the government support and special programmes for the revival of the industry,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Another major reason for this critical situation of the garment industry is insufficient commitment at the industry and policy making levels for responding to foreseen adjustment problems in trade without quota. &ldquo;We are committed towards capacity building and policy innovation for responding to the changed scenario through active coordination between private sector and the government&rdquo;, Agrawal said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	At present garment manufacturers are receiving orders for traditional readymade garments such as traditional stitching, designs and handmade embroidery. In midst of other troubles, the industry is also running sort of sufficient skilled labour force. &nbsp;Though comparative statistics of the Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC) show an increment of around 50 per cent in total garment exports in the past six months&rsquo;, exporters allude this increase to the spike in dollar exchange rates during the period. Total export of Nepali garment in 2012-13 was worth Rs 1.811 billion, which increased by 50.4 per cent with a total export of Rs 2.72 billion during the first six months of the current fiscal year, states the TEPC statistics.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong><img alt="Export of Garment" src="/userfiles/images/f3%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; width: 200px; height: 314px;" />Present Scenario of Nepali Garment Industry&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Exporters looking forward for revising GSP facility to the US</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The US GSP programme for Nepal expired on July 31, 2013, which has further hit the declining export of Nepali RMG to its top buyer: United States. However the garment exporters are hopeful that the government will take initiatives to revise the GSP facility. During the first meeting of Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) in the US, Nepal had raised the issue of GSP facilitation for garments. Nepali entrepreneurs had also underlined the need to revise GSP during the first joint council meeting of Nepal and US to clear trade hurdles.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Proper cash incentive scheme can create new opportunities</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The government has only fixed one per cent cash incentive for readymade garments. Earlier, it used to provide two to three per cent cash incentive. This amendment failed to encourage the overall export sector. Garment exporters, find this incentive scheme unjustified and call for revising it.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>The garment industrialist waiting for the inclusion of Nepali Garment in the NTIS revised priority list</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Failure to increase the export figures and lack of new markets for products in the NTIS priority list has raised concerns among the exporters about the advantage of being listed in the priority list. According to the exporters the government should have included readymade garments along with woodcraft and stone craft in the NTIS priority products. Garments, carpets, pashmina and handicraft products were defined as special focus area for export promotion. Despite having a large share in the total exportable products of the country and despite being recognized as product with comparative advantage by the Nepal Trade and Competitiveness study, readymade garments still remains out of the NTIS priority products list.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Search for new destination&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepali readymade garment has plans to explore Australian market as its new export destination. According to GAN, Australia already has been importing large quantity of readymade garments from India, Bangladesh and Srilanka and it can be a good opportunity for the country if the Australian market could be researched. In the past single market concentration has hurt the Nepali readymade garment sector and this fact has necessitated the diversification of market for its products.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Nepali Garments" src="/userfiles/images/f1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 362px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-03-10',
			'modified' => '2014-03-10',
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			'description' => 'During the industry’s heyday, the sector alone used to export RMG products worth more than Rs 12 billion but recent statistics do not show any distinct progress.',
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			'id' => '2712',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Silver Lining On Silver Jewellery',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>History of Silver jewellery</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal has a long tradition of craftsmanship in many forms like wood carving, metal craft, stone carving and, working silver and gold into exquisite pieces of jewellery. The manufacture of jewellery in Nepal is wide spread throughout the country since time immemorial. The production of jewellery is labour intensive industry that was based on caste and cultural heritage. It was traditionally confined only to the Newari Shakya and Sunar families, but nowadays, other castes are also equally involved in this occupation. The local demand of jewellery has traditionally confined to social and religious occasions and other ritual ceremonies. The arrival of foreign tourist has led to the mingling of the traditional heritage with modern foreign market taste. The filigree cuttings have made Nepali silver jewelleries peerless. The handmade production process has made it possible to spread over rural areas benefiting the rural mass.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Present scenario</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Once the poor second cousin of gold, silver jewellery has become a cool, contemporary style icon in its own right. &ldquo;The skyrocketing price of the yellow metal people from various walks of life are getting more attracted to the cheaper yet stylish silver jewelleries,&rdquo; said former president of Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers&rsquo; Association Tej Ratna Shakya. According to him, on an average around 100-150 kilos of silver is traded daily in the local market. Apart from the jewellery, the silver utensils are also on high demand due to the influence of Indian culture,&rdquo; Shakya said. He also added that the trading of silver products is increasing remarkably in the local market and the situation is improving in the international market too. Silver is used mainly in household and industrial purpose. However the trend of silver jewellery is also catching among youths here who are more attracted to silver bracelets, rings, earrings, bangles and pendants as their fashion statements.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<table align="center" width="100">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>
				<img alt="Customers purchasing silver ornaments at Silver Palace, New Road." src="/userfiles/images/f.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 550px; height: 374px;" /></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td bgcolor="#DDDDDD">
				<div align="center">
					<div style="text-align: center;">
						<strong>Customers purchasing silver ornaments at Silver Palace, New Road.</strong></div>
					<div style="text-align: right;">
						<em>Photos: Rukesh Shrestha/TC</em></div>
				</div>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>International Market Trend</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Following the laboratory certification system for the silver articles, the export of silver article is gradually moving ahead in the international market. &ldquo;Now we do not have problems while exporting silver products in the European market which is the major buyer of the product,&rdquo; said Shakya. However the government must actively look for upgrading the existing certification method. Nepali Silver Jewellery is one of the major overseas export products next to other handicraft products of the country. The number of the export markets of this product has crossed 30 out of which, USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Japan, France, Italy and Australia are the&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	leading ones.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Now Certified&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Introduction of quality testing certification for Nepali silver jewellery has averted possible ban for the products in European market on charges of having traces of restricted chemical &lsquo;Cadmium&rsquo; in them. The certification system that tests any silver product for this chemical and certifies it as quality product of the country has once again brought charm to silver products in the local and the international market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;The export of silver jewellery that was about to get ban in the European country has finally received a relief as now we have a proper certification system, which certifies the purity of the product,&rdquo; said Shakya. Earlier the European Union was mulling on banning the import of Nepali silver jewellery if the exporters failed to certify that the products were free of cadmium. Cadmium is a known carcinogenic substance and various studies have concluded that it is toxic. Long-term contact of it can cause kidney and bone damage. According to the silver exporters now only 0.01 per cent cadmium is allowed in the exportable silver products.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="NTIS" src="/userfiles/images/F1.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 300px; height: 525px;" />Initiative of Government</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS) 2010, put in place by the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies has prioritised 19 goods and services (7 agro-food products, 5 craft and industrial goods and 7 services) for export promotion in the next three to five years. Silver jewellery is one of the five craft and industrial goods on this priority list. German International Cooperation (GIZ) is one of those development partners, which have been supporting the government in implementing NTIS 2010. In consultation with MoCS, it has chosen two of the 19 products and services prioritized by NTIS 2010, namely medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPS)/essential oils and silver jewellery, to help enhance their exports.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Facts about Silver jewellery</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal&rsquo;s world market share of silver jewellery exports is about 0.2 percent. In the past few years, exports have been fairly stable and prospect for future export is generally seen as very good. Production costs are competitive and workers are readily available. Most major markets grant duty-free access to Nepali silver jewellery. There are also no any non-tariff barriers (NTBs) hindering exports of silver jewellery from Nepal, except that use of cadmium has resulted in ban of some items entering European markets.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Firms and companies involved in jewellery production and export are owned by private entrepreneurs and operate as small-scale/cottage producers. Firms normally outsource jewellery production to individual craftsmen who have in-house workshops. Annual production of silver jewellery in Nepal is 15 to 20 metric tons (MT) while the annual production capacity is estimated at 50 M. Silver jewellery is fully handmade in Nepal. Productivity and quality can be improved if production were further mechanized.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Monthly salaries of skilled workers in the silver jewellery sector is around US$100, which is less than that in competing countries such as India and Thailand. Almost all silver and 95 percent of gemstones and semiprecious stones required for jewellery are imported from India, Brazil, Thailand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and distributed by local importers.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	According to the Nepal Trade Integration Strategy 2010 almost half of the total production of silver jewellery produced in Nepal is supplied to the domestic market and the rest is exported. However, even those supplied to the domestic market are usually exported later either through resale to tourists or through informal exports. Poor business environment in the country has encouraged informal trade in substantial quantity.</div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-03-03',
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			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Following the laboratory certification system the export of silver article is gradually moving ahead in the international market.',
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	(int) 2 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2646',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Nepali Tea: Tea from the High Lands',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<p>
	&nbsp;</p>
<p>
	Nepal has a long history of tea cultivation, initiated with the establishment of Ilam Tea Estate in the hills of Ilam district in 1863 and Soktim Tea Estate in the plains. It is believed that tea plantation in Nepal started within the same decade, when it was introduced in the hills of Darjeeling, India.</p>
<p>
	First private sector tea plantation in Terai was established in 1959 under the name of Bhudhakaran Tea Estate. Government joined the sector in 1966 with the establishment of Nepal Tea Development Corporation. After considering the potential for tea farming in the eastern development region, in 1982 five districts of the region i.e. Jhapa, Ilam, Panchthar, Terhathum and Dhankuta were declared &lsquo;Tea Zone&rsquo;. However now days Tea is also cultivated in few other districts.<br />
	<br />
	Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board says that promotional activities to promote Nepali tea in the international market are inadequate even though it is listed as a priority in the Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS) 2010. This list includes the 19 Nepali products that have export potential. &ldquo;The government should be more concerned about its promotion in the international market so that it receives better market value and positioning in the international market,&rdquo; states the board.</p>
<p>
	<img alt="Tea Plantation &amp; Production" src="/userfiles/images/f3%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 225px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></p>
<p>
	The 2011 &ndash; 12 statistics states that the tea plantations which covers the area of 18149 hectares of land across the nation annually produces 18.3 million kgs of Tea and provides direct employment to 100 thousand people. Private sector actors in the industry comprise of small farmer as well big corporate houses that have large tea estates with tea processing factories and marketing mechanism.</p>
<p>
	<img alt="Tea Plantation and Production in Nepal" src="/userfiles/images/f1%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 237px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></p>
<p>
	There are 140 registered tea estates and 40 tea processing factories that produce 85 per cent of the nation&rsquo;s production volume.Some of these factories do not have their own tea estate. They process tea produced by small and medium tea farmers. This type of small holding tea estate farming is anticipated to flourish in the days ahead.</p>
<p>
	<img alt="Orthodox and CTC TEa Plantation" src="/userfiles/images/f2%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 174px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /><br />
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Packaging Industry</strong></span><br />
	There are two types of tea packaging industries operating in Nepal. First of these are the ones operated large scale tea producers who have their own tea estates and use the facility to package their products exclusively. Another type of factories buy tea products from national and international producers and package it at their own facility.<br />
	<br />
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Forecasts</strong></span><br />
	Presently Tea plantation is dominated by small holders. Future target is set to extend plantation to 40 thousand hectares with an expected harvest of 46 million kg of tea annually whose worth is estimated to be around 247 million dollars. This will generate employment for 102 thousand people in rural areas and is expected to boost up the rural economy, states the Nepal Tea and Coffee Development Board.<br />
	<br />
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="Nepal TEa" src="/userfiles/images/f4%20(Copy).jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 100px; height: 110px;" />Branding Efforts</strong></span><br />
	National Tea and Coffee Development Board has developed a logo in accordance to the provision of the National Tea Policy 2000 to introduce N e p a l Tea in the domestic and international market and create its niche. Half circle green background embedded by double red circle of this national tea logo indicates the eco-friendly environment of the tea garden; where a tea twig having two leaves and a bud flourish. Along with that the smiling and shining southern face of the Mt. Everest placed in the upper half portion of this logo signifies as the tea produced in the land of Himalayas. Two words &ldquo;NEPAL TEA&rdquo; placed within the diameter of the logo circle establish unfailingly as a brand that symbolizes &ndash; &ldquo;A symbol of quality from the top of the world.&rdquo;</p>',
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			'created' => '2014-02-23',
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			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'There are 140 Registered Tea Estate which contribute 85 per cent of the National’s production volume. Nepal has 40 Tea processing factories in private sectors.',
			'sortorder' => '2495',
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	(int) 3 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2623',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'A Case Of Doctor’s Negligence An Appendectomy Gone Wrong',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Shriya Pant&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Timro thulo dassaa taryo.&rdquo; (It&rsquo;s a Nepali saying whose English equivalent would be &ldquo;it could have been worse!). I have been getting that a lot since I had an appendectomy on October 2, 2013. It is a straight-forward medical procedure that interns often perform as their first surgery. But this simple procedure has left me with nerve damage &ndash; a condition called Meralgia paraesthetica - that is both physically and mentally frustrating.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	And the worst thing is, after consulting numerous doctors, it turns out I most likely did not even have appendicitis. The pain in my abdomen was pain that can sometimes occur after one has had shingles &ndash; which many doctors and surgeons often confuse for appendicitis. Instead of asking me for my medical history, Vayodha Hospital went straight for the surgery route, and consequently, I am living with something that could have been avoided had they simply asked.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Through my personal experience, I want to highlight the questionable state of private medical care in Nepal -- bring to light the flawed medical system, from the attitude of the doctors, the way in which the medical staff were so quick to wheel me into the operating theatre, to how the hospital management were not open to compensate me for my resulting nerve damage.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Considering that the pain I had was not excruciating nor was my appendix at its bursting point, I would have expected the staff at Vayodha to at least put me under observation for a night. But instead, what I got was &ldquo;the surgeon is about to leave, what have you decided?&rdquo; This kind of pressure on the patient does nothing but enhance stress. Yes, the final decision was ours to make, but had the hospital informed, counseled and encouraged us it was not urgent and that ideally, it would be best to observe my condition, we would have surely followed their advice.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	A patient is not a medical expert; s/he expects proper advice and counseling from doctors or hospital staff. In fact, such advice and counseling should be part of the basic services they offer. Unfortunately, profit, and not patient care and relationships, seems to be their mantra - something that was apparent not only in my experience, but is characteristic of the larger private health care system.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In the insatiable quest to make money, hospitals are springing up everywhere in Kathmandu. Where some sound and caring medical advice would be sufficient, patients are being forced to undergo procedures that may not be necessary because they cost more, whether it&rsquo;s being forced to have C-sections, or other surgeries that should not be the first course of action.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	While I appreciate that both the director of Vayodha and my surgeon took the time to talk to me about my nerve damage, it was more procedural and neither offered to pay for physiotherapy or other alternative courses to help alleviate the pain (whatever that might be). The surgeon also stubbornly refused to admit that this kind of nerve damage could occur after surgery. Most surprisingly he did not even know what Meralgia paraesthetica was. Instead, he proudly claimed to have simply made a small incision and slid the appendix out within 10-15 minutes!&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The refusal from the doctor that he may have made a mistake is not surprising. We live in a country where doctors believe, and we reinforce this belief, that they are like god, who know best, and can do no wrong. This is further reinforced by the fact that in Nepal, there are no repercussions for not doing your job properly. Negligence accompanied by impunity is the rule of the game.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	I am one of the privileged Nepalis, being able to afford a private hospital and seek medical care. But I don&rsquo;t want to keep going back to our beloved recourse of mero dasa rahecha (It was my bad luck), or ke garne (what to do?). I don&rsquo;t want to leave what should be practical, scientific and technical solutions to higher powers regardless of the fact that a majority of doctors in this country seem to think they possess. And I don&rsquo;t want to remain quiet any longer.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
	<em>(Pant has an MSC in international Health Policy from London School of Economics and is a public health professional.)</em></div>',
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			'created' => '2014-02-18',
			'modified' => '2014-02-18',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'In Nepali healthcare system, negligence accompanied by impunity is the rule of the game.',
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	(int) 4 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2616',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Health Of Nepali Ayurvedic Sector',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Although the use of modern medicine has been increasing over the years in Nepal, more than 75 percent of the country&rsquo;s population is estimated to be using traditional medicine. Ayurveda, Amchi, Homeopathy and Naturopathy are important traditional health systems that are in practice within the country. Among them, Ayurveda is the oldest and most popular traditional health care system. Dr Baburaja Amatya, Senior Ayurveda Doctor at the Department of Drug Administration said, &ldquo;Government has opened Ayurvedic Health Centre in every district of the country. This is indicative of the initiative taken by the government in the development of Ayurveda treatment system.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Increasing Scope</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Be it rural or the urbanities, people have been increasingly opting for Ayurvedic treatment, which can be clearly noticed in the comparative increase of sales and distribution of the Ayurvedic medicines this year. Dr Amatya said, &ldquo;People are gradually shifting their treatment system from allopathic to ayurvedic one and this is visible in the increase of sales of ayurvedic medicines. &nbsp;The sales of these medicines have doubled this year than that of previous years.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Increasing numbers of ayurvedic companies is another factor that reflects increasing use of ayurvedic treatment among Nepalis. There are 76 Nepali ayurvedic companies and recently some Indian ayurvedic companies are also being established in Nepal. &ldquo;Almost 30 Indian companies have opened their industry in Nepal promoting the national ayurvedic industry.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Abundant Raw Materials&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal has a special place in the history of ayurveda. It has rich biodiversity associated with its topographical diversity makes Nepal home to some 1,700 medical plants used in ayurvedic treatment.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Initiatives taken</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Both, the government and the private sector, has been investing and promoting ayurvedic treatment system. Gajendra Bahadur Bhuju, director general at the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) said, &ldquo;Nepali government has opened an ayurvedic health center in each district. &nbsp;Along with that it has established factories mainly in Butwal, Rupandehi, Birgunj and Kathmandu and some other districts.&rdquo; &ldquo;There are more than 100 companies in Nepal owned by government, private sector and foreign investors,&rdquo; he added.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Verification Measures</strong></span></div>
<div>
	DDA is the regulatory body certifying the production, distribution and quality control of the ayurvedic medicines in Nepal. &ldquo;The medicines can only be distributed to the market after it is certified as bacteria free,&rdquo; Dr Amatya said. He added, &ldquo;Similarly, the medicines are also checked for use of heavy materials like arsenic, lead etc during the manufacture process.&rdquo; &nbsp;An ayurvedic medicine manufacturing company should mandatorily acquire bacteria free certificate for acquiring permission to market its products. Amatya said the certification process has helped in increasing the quality of the ayurvedic medicines leading to the rise in credibility of Nepali ayurvedic medicines.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Export potential&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Demand for traditional medicine has been growing strongly over the last 15 years, especially in developed countries. As the land of Ayurveda, Nepal is a natural attraction for foreign consumers for alternative medicine. Adding to it, the resurgence of faith in traditional medicine among urban Nepalis after decades of domination of traditional health systems by modern medicine, seems promising.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	According to experts, main challenges in this sector include lack of resources and budget in government-owned health institutions, lack of medicines and equipment, lack of programmes that correspond to the need of communities; malpractices at the local level, lack of pathology and radiology services at district ayurveda health centres and lack of awareness among people of available Ayurveda services.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Amatya said, &ldquo;People still lack proper information about the usage, utilization of different ayurvedic medicines as a result of which its popularity is not increasing as expected.&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Steps to be taken</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Ayurveda treatment system has a long way to go in Nepal though it has abundant raw materials for preparing such medicines. Instead of exporting unprocessed herbs to foreign nations at cheaper prices, herbs should be processed within the country and exported at better prices. Maintaining international standards in the quality of human resources used and medicine produced are crucial for the industry to thrive at the international level. Similarly the government should launch effective publicity campaigns, aimed at nationals as well as foreigners, to highlight the effectiveness and benefits of using ayurvedic medicines.&nbsp;</div>',
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			'description' => 'Although the use of modern medicine has been increasing over the years in Nepal, more than 75 percent of the country’s population is estimated to be using traditional medicine. Ayurveda, Amchi, Homeopathy and Naturopathy are important traditional health systems that are in practice within the country.',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2582',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Chyangra Pashmina Regains Warmth',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Eliza Tuladhar</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	With the joint efforts of the government and the World Trade Organization (WTO)/ Enhanced Integrated Framework Trading Stories project, a project that aims to improve Pashmina product development and marketing, the Nepali Chyangra Pashmina is finally going to receive a new lease of life. Pashmina product is one of the major exportable products of the country but the export of the product started declining in the early 2000 when the international market started importing Pashmina products from Chinese and the Indian Market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The loss of reputation has significantly affected the Pashmina that was a very strong export industry for Nepal. In the year 2000, the industry had exported Pashmina worth Rs 15 billion but it has reduced to a mere Rs 1 billion currently due to the cheap fake products that keep the market flooded.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	However now with the support of WTO/EIF Trading Stories project the Pashmina industrialist are hopeful to revive its international trading and minimize the threat created due to the increasing number of export from the Chinese and Indian market. According to Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA) President, Pushpa Man Shrestha, the association is hopeful that the project will start from March this year. &ldquo;The project under the WTO/EIF Trading Stories is a three years long project which will be basically focused on showcasing, Chyangra farming, production of raw material, Pashmina manufacturing process and finally its trading process,&rdquo; said Shrestha.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The &lsquo;Pashmina Enhancement and Trade Support project under WTO aims to respond to trade related priorities in the Nepal Trade Integrated Strategies as well as to build sustainable local capacities and leverage additional resources from development partner pursuant to the goal. The project will contribute to achieving improved and increased export performance by at least 20 per cent. Chyangra Pashmina from Nepal is exported to more than 60 countries and the &lsquo;Chyangra&rsquo; trademark is registered in more than 40 of these countries.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Due to weak quality control and nominal productions of domestic raw materials, as well as lack of brand awareness of Nepali &lsquo;Chyangra Pashmina&rsquo; in the international market the export of Pashmina has been disturbed.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>History of Pashmina</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Pashmina is the finest inner wool that grows as layer at the very bottom of thick and coarse fibre of Himalayan goat, locally known as chyangra (Capra Hircus), living above 2000 meter from the sea level. Each chyangra does produce 90 grams of Pashmina once a year. It is extracted from its body either by combing or by cutting during January to February. Pashmina is one of the finest, softest, warmest and lightest wool found in nature. In fact, it is the best wool in the world. Pashmina is known by different names like &ldquo;Diamond Fibre&rdquo; and &ldquo;Soft Gold of High Asia&rdquo;. It is unparalleled in uniqueness and elegance to any other fibres. The main raw materials used for producing Pashmina products are &lsquo;Pashmina Yarn&rsquo; and &lsquo;Silk Yarn&rsquo; plus dyes and chemicals.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Pashmina in Nepal" src="/userfiles/images/pmn%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 260px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Production of Pashmina&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The production process of pashmina product generally includes weaving, dyeing, processing, fringing, tassels, embroidery, beadwork, printing etc. Nepali Chyangra Pashmina, one of the major exportable product of the country is &lsquo;the softest, exotically, delicate, weightless and the finest insulating fibre of the world with high potential for export to the European market. The outer layer of Chyangra is discarded and only the inner layer of fibre measuring less than 16.5 microns is specified for use as Pashmina. These extraordinary characters of Pashmina fibres have encouraged weavers to produce various types of wraps for warmness. The exquisite characters of Nepali Chyangra Pashmina have established it as the most precious possession. The Pashmina fibre thus obtained from the Chyangra are spun into thin yarn which is woven to make different types of Pashmina products like blankets, shawls, stoles, scarves as well as pullovers, cardigans etc.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Pricing of Pashmina products&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The price of Nepali Pashmina product basically depends upon its quality, ordering size, colour, design and size. Almost all of the Pashmina industries are concentrated in the Kathmandu Valley. They are absolutely export-oriented. However, it has been given the impression that as many as 5 per cent of its products may be consumed within the country. Pashmina products account for more than 50 per cent of the total export figure of the handicraft products. And it is the major export component under the handicraft goods category.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The number of international export markets of Nepali Pashmina products exceeds 40 out of which, USA, Italy, Canada, UK, France, Japan, Germany and India are the major ones.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Challenges faced by Nepali Chyangra Pashmina</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepali Pashmina industries need to import all the raw material. Pashmina Yarn and Silk Yarn are imported from China and India and Chemicals and dyes from Europe and India. It can be made of pure Pashmina yarn or by using both Pashmina yarn and Silk yarn in a certain proportion normally in the ratio of 70:30, depending upon the demand of the buyers. Fineness, softness, warmness, lightness, durability and craftsmanship are its inherent features. Shrestha also claimed that lower priced Indian Pashmina products have hit the market of Nepali Pashmina and has made it difficult to survive the growing price competition. Pashmina exporters also say that according to the international buyers, price of Nepali Pashmina products is around 30 per cent more than that of Indian products. Indian exporters can buy huge quantity of raw materials and have started their own spinning that has made their products more competitive in the international market.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Pashmina industries in the country&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	According to Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA) there are around 20 industries that have exports of around Rs one billion including exports to India. There are 300 Pashmina exporters registered at NPIA and out of them 20 have high production capacity and with good export figures. There are around two to four industries who also export Pashmina to India.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Pashmina was famous across the world for the past couple of decades but with the introduction of low priced and fake Pashmina wool, the original Pashmina industry is fighting for existence. However the product is gradually being reintroduced as the brand &lsquo;Chyangra Pashmina&rsquo;. &ldquo;We have tried to reintroduce the Nepali Pashmina with the brand &lsquo;Chyangra Pashmina; and we hope that the WTO/EIF project will give us much required support to move ahead with promotion and development of new products and improvement of the products that will meet the demands of the international market,&rdquo; said Shrestha. The association along with the government has registered a collective trademark &lsquo;Chyangra Pashmina&rsquo; and its logo in the domestic and international markets to get rid of fake pashmina. Chyangra pashmina is now a registered brand in 41 countries. The association has also applied for its registration in South Africa, Brazil, Russia, Taiwan and the UAE.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The World Trade Organization has recently developed trading stories of Pashmina to create awareness about the product and bring more opportunities for it in the international market. The Pashmina trading story includes each step of production &ndash;&ndash; from Chyangra farming to processing &ndash;&ndash; which will help create awareness about pure Chyangra Pashmina among the people in around 148 countries.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="10" width="99%">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td bgcolor="#E5E4E2">
				<div>
					<div>
						<div>
							<div>
								<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><img alt="Shawl" src="/userfiles/images/1%20(Copy)(3).jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px;width: 50px; height: 102px;" />Shawl</strong></span></div>
							<div>
								Pashmina Shawls are the most exportable Nepali product. It is loosely worn over the shoulders, upper body, and arms. Generally in Nepal it is used by ladies in parties and function, outings in winter season where as in the western countries female use it anytime as a fashion statement.&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><img alt="Stole" src="/userfiles/images/2%20(Copy)(3).jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; width: 75px; height: 90px;" />Stole</strong></span></div>
							<div>
								Pashmina stole is a smaller form of the shawl. Nepal is renowned all over the world for its finely woven Pashmina stoles. Stoles are mostly used by younger generation without wrapping. It covers the shoulders and falls down in front of the body.&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								<span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong><img alt="Scarf" src="/userfiles/images/3%20(Copy)(3).jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; width: 80px; height: 100px;" />Scarf</strong></span></div>
							<div>
								A scarf is a piece of fabric worn around the neck for warmth. &nbsp;Nepal is well known for its finely woven Pashmina scarves. It is also one of the most exportable products.&nbsp;</div>
							<div>
								&nbsp;</div>
						</div>
					</div>
				</div>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
<p>
	&nbsp;</p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-02-10',
			'modified' => '2014-02-18',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'With the joint efforts of the government and the World Trade Organization (WTO)/ Enhanced Integrated Framework Trading Stories project, a project that aims to improve Pashmina product development and marketing, the Nepali Chyangra Pashmina is finally going to receive a new lease of life.',
			'sortorder' => '2426',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2574',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'MAN’s Past And Present',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	<strong>--By TC Correspondent</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Management Association of Nepal (MAN) was established in 1979 as the apex body of management professionals with active support of the corporate sector. As a national-level non-profit and non-partisan membership-based professional organization, MAN has been an important forum for developing management professionalism and for fostering a performance-oriented and socially responsible work culture in the country. It has a strong membership base of over 1,700 individuals and 180 institutions that are associated with various disciplines and sectors of Nepali economy and society.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	MAN is one of the founding members of the Asian Association of Management Organizations (AAMO). It has close links with a number of well-known professional bodies like the American Management Association (AMA) and All India Management Association (AIMA). These linkages provide MAN access to information on best management practices and techniques available in the other parts of the world. Experts have increasingly stressed that the ongoing processes of state&rsquo;s restructuring and transformation in Nepal should follow management development process for effectiveness and sustainability</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Organisational structure of MAN</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The General Assembly is the supreme body in MAN&rsquo;s organizational structure and is responsible for providing policy guidelines and directives. It elects an executive committee in every two years. The executive committee implements policies, approves programs and provides guidelines to the secretariat. A secretariat, headed by the Executive Director is responsible for the organization&rsquo;s day-to-day administration and management. MAN develops and delivers its services through active participation of its members.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Current MAN executive committee</strong></span></div>
<div>
	There are 19 members in the incumbent executive committee of MAN with Janak Raj Shah as its president, Uttar Kumar Shrestha as the first vice president, Gosal KC second vice president, Sushil Kumar Aryal as secretary general, and Shanti Laxmi Shakya as the treasurer. The remaining 13 members are Arjun Kumar Gautam, Dilip Raj Paudel, Prof. Dr Fatta Bahadur KC, Jeevan Devi Kansakar, Krishna Gyawali, Pratap Kumar Pathak, Pratik Adhikari, Rajiv Pokharel, Rameshwor Prasad Khanal, Saroj Kumar Pradhan, Dr.Som Prasad Pudasaini, Tikajit Rai, and Sushil Bhatta. Kaji Bahadur Dahal has been acting as the executive director of this association.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Awards</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Management Association of Nepal (MAN) started the MAN Manager of the Year Award in 1987 with an aim to promote development of management skills and to recognize best management practitioners. In 2002, the association also started felicitating outstanding Women managers with the Women Manager Recognition Award. In some exceptional case, the association also felicitates people who have made outstandingcontribution to management sector with its prestigious &lsquo;Outstanding Management Award.&rsquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In its earlier days, the association focused on financial sector as the recipient of its awards, but later on, it increased outreach and scope of the award to other sectors like hospital, music, education, corporates etc. The association is planning to felicitate civil servants from this year by introducing Civil Servant Award this year. &ldquo;We will select one of the government employees after proper analysis and confirmations from various sources,&rdquo; said MAN executive director Kaji Bahadur Dahal.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Annual activities&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Management Association of Nepal focuses on research, training, and education sector. &ldquo;Apart from research and training programmes we have our own management college where we try to produce more efficient management student,&rdquo; said Dahal. According to him, pre budget discussion programmes and monetary policy advisory preparation are some of the annual programmes done by the MAN. &ldquo;Most of our programmes are organized in association with international agencies,&rdquo; he said.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	One of the core activities of MAN is conducting different management trainings programmes for various levels, covering critical and emerging areas. It organizes around 100 training and workshop programmes, as required or requested.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Current activity</strong></span></div>
<div>
	This year, MAN is preparing to organizeManagement Development Scenario 2013 as part of its 33rd National Management Convention. Highlights of the programme include paper presentation on &lsquo;Political Management: A case of Nepal&rsquo;, presentation and discussion on &lsquo;Management Development Scenario&rsquo; and will announce recipients of &lsquo;Manager of the Year Award&rsquo; and &lsquo;Woman Manager Recognition Award&rsquo;.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>SWOT Analysis of MAN</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Strengths</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&bull;Expertise of members</div>
<div>
	&bull;Strong knowledge base</div>
<div>
	&bull;Good recognition in international level since it is affiliated to many organizations across the world</div>
<div>
	&bull;Has high level government as well as public enterprises executives as its members</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Weaknesses</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&bull;Unable to engage members from diverse sector</div>
<div>
	&bull;Majority of the members are government officials</div>
<div>
	&bull;Lack of sufficient products to sell</div>
<div>
	&bull;Knowledge as the only saleable product but unable to sell it to generate profits</div>
<div>
	&bull;Financially stable but not strong</div>
<div>
	&bull;Discontinuation of membership&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&bull;Members not able to give enough time to the Association</div>
<div>
	&bull;Insufficient infrastructure</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Opportunities</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&bull;Access and reach on both private and public sector</div>
<div>
	&bull;Growing demand for management research&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&bull;Growing popularity, though slowly, among public and private sector managers</div>
<div>
	&bull;Emergence of modern corporate sector</div>
<div>
	&bull;The organisation&rsquo;s college has a potential to start MPhil and PhD classes</div>
<div>
	&bull;Possibility to launch faculty development programmes related to management education</div>
<div>
	&bull;The Association can be developed as an authority on management issues for the country</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Threats</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&bull;Possible formation of organisations of similar nature</div>
<div>
	&bull;Emergence of competitors in research and educational services&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&bull;Perception as an organisation only for the government officials</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/man%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 604px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-02-09',
			'modified' => '2014-02-10',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Management Association of Nepal (MAN) was established in 1979 as the apex body of management professionals with active support of the corporate sector. As a national-level non-profit and non-partisan membership-based professional organization, MAN has been an important forum for developing management professionalism and for fostering a performance-oriented and socially responsible work culture in the country',
			'sortorder' => '2419',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
			'homepage' => false,
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			'main_news' => false,
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			'user_id' => '0'
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	),
	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2528',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Generators: A Biz Thriving Under Loadshedding',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Madan Lamichhane</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The increase in load shedding hours and dip in temperature have created double whammy for generators market. In the past years, non-branded generators with low capacity were high on demand. But, now, people are inclined towards branded generators. Thus, the demand for branded generators is increasing day by day.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The generator market is on rise mainly because of the rise in the loadshedding hours. Prior to loadshedding, generators were used for backup only. But, due to current energy crisis, generators are being used as an alternative source of energy. The present Nepali market consists of four kinds of generators that run on deisel, petrol, gas and kerosene.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Branded Vs Non-Branded generators</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Previously, customers prefered non-branded generators due to its low cost. However, in the recent days, people are aware about the quality of the generators which is one of the main reason for the increasing demand for generators. According to Vishal Gadia, Executive Director of Morang Auto Works Engineering Pvt Ltd., increasing awareness among people about the &nbsp;lifespan of the generators, fuel consumption, servicing and facilities of branded generators has caused a decline in the sales of non-branded generators. However, the share of low capacity generators in the Nepali market in the non-branded segment is also significant. &nbsp;Gadia estimates the market share of the non-branded generators with a capacity between one to &nbsp;20 KVA to be around fifty per cent. However, in comparison to the fast few years, the use of such generators has been decreasing, he adds.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Even though branded generators require huge amount of investment, because of its quality it is highly demanded,&rdquo; says Nirmal Bogati, Director of Subha Kamal Global Business Hub Pvt Ltd.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In the recent years, generators have become compulsion in housing, departmental stores, offices and factories. Due to its increasing demand, there are varieties of generators available in the market from various brands of different capacities. However, in the past three years, the market of generator has remained stable because of its long lifespan. &ldquo;Generators are equipments that need not be bought time and again and thus the market is stable,&rdquo; says Bogati.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The market consists of different sized generators, ranging from portable generators to big heavy generators. &ldquo;Generators of different sizes are brought in the market depending on the customer&rsquo;s demand,&rdquo; says Bandhan Karki, Manager of Syakar Company Ltd. &nbsp;Syakar Company recently launched portable Honda generators. &ldquo;Such portable generators are useful for trekkers,&rdquo; adds Karki.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The increasing load shedding hours and the restriction on imports of inverters by the government has compelled the consumers to be dependent on generators. The Ministry of Energy had restricted imports of inverters in 2066 with the aim of decreasing loadshedding in Nepal.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Loadshedding directly affects the sales of low capacity generators. According to Gadia, the sale of generators with a capacity of 20 KVA is increasing because of long hours of loadshedding. If the loadshedding hours were less, &nbsp;consumers would have used lower capacity generators. This could decrease the sales of generators below 20 KVA capacity.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Market Competition</strong></span></div>
<div>
	&ldquo;The generators with 1 to 20 KVA capacity make up 75 per cent of the market share&rdquo;, says Gadia. In comparsion to big generators, small ones are demanded more because of their relatively low price. The market competition is based on the features of the generators. As such, the competition between companies is based on fuel consumption, operation cost, customer service, availability of spare parts and price of the generators. Consumers&rsquo; awareness about low quality generators has created competition based on service, incentives and quality. This has led to the downfall of the non-branded generators as consumers are being aware about their pitfalls.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Brands sold in Nepal</strong></span></div>
<div>
	There are one hundred generator distributors in Kathmandu alone. Some of the recognized generators in Nepal are- Honda, Yamaha, Kirloskar, Kohler, SDS and Greaves. 80 per cent of the branded generators are used in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Narayanghat while the remaining 20 per cent is used in other cities. &nbsp;As there is no basis to expect reduction in loadhshedding hours for the next 5 years, energy experts have said that generators are the best alternative to meet the energy crisis.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Types of generator engines</strong></span></div>
<div>
	There are basically two types of generators available in the market-water cooled engines and air cooled engines. Many entrepreneurs believe that water cooled generators are more effective in comparison to air cooled ones. Water cooled are relatively cheaper and have a longer life span.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In the recent times, the generators that are assembled in Nepal are gaining popularity. But, entrepreneurs suggest consumers to opt for branded generators because these come with warranty and other facilities. Similarly, the engines of branded generators are covered. These generators are safe to use and are sound proof. In India, generators lacking &lsquo;sound proof&rsquo; facility are banned.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Generators" src="/userfiles/images/fc1%20(Copy)(5).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 166px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Generators everywhere</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Though branded generators require huge amount of investment, customers&rsquo; preference for them &nbsp;have made them dominent in the market. Likewise, entrepreneurs believe that some of the latest Chinese generators available in the market are also good in terms of quality. Due to lack of domestic production of generators, many entrepreneurs have established themselves as authorized distributors of foreign branded generators.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Problems</strong></span></div>
<div>
	For the imports of small generators of 10 KVA capacity, 25 per cent custom duty has to be paid. But, for importing generators with more capacity, only 1 per cent custom duty has to be paid. This is creating a big problem for the entrepreneurs. Because of the increasing loadshedding hours generators are demanded in every sector now . So, the government has to reduce custom in small generators because they are high in demand. If done so many people can afford generators.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Things to be considered</strong></span></div>
<div>
	After every hundred hours of use, generators must be given for servicing. Generators, being a matter of one time investment, have to be used carefully. Generators have to be kept safely and out of reach of children. Similarly, their engine oil has to be checked time and again.</div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-01-27',
			'modified' => '2014-02-13',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'The increase in load shedding hours and dip in temperature have created double whammy for generators market. In the past years, non-branded generators with low capacity were high on demand. But, now, people are inclined towards branded generators. Thus, the demand for branded generators is increasing day by day.',
			'sortorder' => '2392',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2478',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Rainbow Trout Business In Nepal',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Rashika Pokharel</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rainbow Trout fish farming is a profit generating business, which has a wide scope in the Nepali market. Rainbow Trout, one of the many species of trout fishes, is a freshwater fish of the salmon family. Rainbow Trout fish have layers of red, green and blue colours glinting from their scales and get their name from this particular quality. This fish grows in cold and fresh running water. Climatic conditions of Nepal are suitable for the farming of this fish and correspondingly many entrepreneurs have capitalized on this fact. Nepali fish lovers have admired delicacies of this fish while appreciating various health benefits it has.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The fish is not native to Nepali waters. For the first time, it was imported for cultivation from Japan in 1988. Due to favourable environmental condition, production of this fish flourished since then. Recently, private sector has introduced new technologies for producing and packaging it. In Nepal, it is generally perceived that fish farming is possible only in the Terai region of the nation. However, recent developments made in fish farming techniques, has caused a paradigm shift in this sector. Now, Rainbow Trout farming is possible in Hilly areas as well.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rainbow Trout farming was first started in Nuwakot. It has been able to bring considerable changes in economic status of the farmers. Even though the fish if produced in multiple places across the nation, the production has not been able to meet market demands. The fish is available in few department stores in Kathmandu. And sometimes consumers are found to be importing it as well. Comparatively the fish is costly than other species of fishes available in Nepali market. &ldquo;A kg of rainbow trout fish costs Rs. 1400,&rdquo; says Rajendra Khadka, owner of Budanilkantha Riverside Restaurant, that sells this fish by producing in its own facility inside the restaurant premises.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>The Healthiest Choice</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Rainbow trout is rich in protein which helps to lose weight and retain lean muscle mass. It contains Omega-3 fatty acid, which helps to reduce blood pressure and helps to overcome depression. This acid also reduces risks of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, high blood cholesterol and certain types of cancer. &nbsp;It contains minerals, iron, calcium, zinc and vitamins including- vitamin B complex and Vitamin D. Delicious and readily available in most grocery stores, Rainbow Trout is also low in sodium and calories.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rainbow trout has comparatively low-fat level and is low in cholesterol too, which makes it a good protein substitute for meats like beef, pork and lamb that contain significantly higher amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Production</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Rainbow trout production is expensive. Rs 20 million investment is required to produce 10 tons of Rainbow Trout and Rs 10 million is required to produce 5 tons. The Investment can be made on the basis of producer&rsquo;s need and financial capabilities. Like other business field, this field has its own bottlenecks and risk factors. &ldquo;Rainbow trout production is not easy. The sustenance of Rainbow Trout farming is difficult to manage both in terms of monetary and labour cost,&rdquo; says Khadka.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Farmers buy baby Rainbow Trout and rear them until they grow to a standard weight. According to Kapil Thapa, Manager at Nepal Rainbow Trout Farmers Association, the standard weight of a rainbow trout for selling is 200 gram. It takes a year for the baby trout to grow up and gain this weight.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rainbow trout farming can be done in any season. However, &ldquo;The most favourable season for its farming is from November to April,&rdquo; says Mahendra Ghorasini, Central Vice-president of Himalayan Trout Association. The suitable temperature for an adult Rainbow Trout to grow properly is 10-14 degree Celsius and 9-12 degree Celsius for the smaller one. &nbsp;This species of the fish require clean, cold and continuously flowing water to sustain and grow.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Rainbow Trout farming is done by a very few farmers because its production is expensive as well as difficult. &nbsp;A single rainbow trout farm setup requires continuous flowing water, a cemented pool and a large area. Though this fish is popular, the popularity is limited to a very few selected groups and is yet reach the mass market. Due to high cost, the popularity is limited to upper middle and high-class people who can afford high costs for seafood eateries. One of the many reasons for the failure of this product to establish in the mass market is the lack of seafood eating culture among general Nepalis, some of which also perceive that seafood eateries are beyond their household budget, Ghorasaini says. Failure to obtain large market for the product has incurred losses to some farmers as sometimes farmers cannot sell reared Rainbow Trout in time.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Another reason behind the declination of rainbow trout sales is the lack of advertisement. &ldquo;We are not getting platform to let people know about rainbow trout,&rdquo; says Thapa. In lack of a proper platform to advertise and reach the common mass of people, the farming has received substantial setbacks in supply its produces.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	One of the major reasons for the high cost of Rainbow Trout in the market is the cost of the food served to this fish. Food served to this fish costs between Rs 130 to Rs 225 per kg.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Adding to it lack of technological developments, proper equipment, and experts the production of the fish has been affected. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have latest technological equipment that can make substantial changes in producing the fish on large scale,&rdquo; Ghorasini said pointing out the reason behind small-scale production of the fish.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>The future</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Despite the seemingly disinterestedness among urban and rural Nepalis for seafood, trends are changing. With more and more restaurants booming in Kathmandu and other urban centres across the nation and with consumers becoming more concerned about hygienic and healthy food, Rainbow Trout delicacies are expected to gain more popularity in the days ahead. Even though the fish is costly, increasing income level of consumers and the health benefits attached to this fish will help in attracting more consumers to buy it. Therefore, they are ready to pay a higher price if the food is nutritious and beneficial.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Future of farmers and entrepreneurs involved in this sector can be secured through special initiatives of the government. The government should assist in conducting researches and providing remedies to the Rainbow Trout fisheries and assist in coordinating with international communities for in sourcing technological advances made in this field. Providing subsidies on the raw materials used by this industry would further help in bringing the market cost of the product and thereby increasing sales of the farmers and making this healthy product available to mass consumers.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Rainbow Trout Business in Nepal" src="/userfiles/images/fn1%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 206px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-01-20',
			'modified' => '2014-01-27',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Rainbow Trout fish farming is a profit generating business, which has a wide scope in the Nepali market. Rainbow Trout, one of the many species of trout fishes, is a freshwater fish of the salmon family. Rainbow Trout fish have layers of red, green and blue colours glinting from their scales and get their name from this particular quality. This fish grows in cold and fresh running water. Climatic conditions of Nepal are suitable for the farming of this fish and correspondingly many entrepreneurs have capitalized on this fact. Nepali fish lovers have admired delicacies of this fish while appreciating various health benefits it has.',
			'sortorder' => '2336',
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			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
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	),
	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2430',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Organic Farming Booming In Nepal',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Organic food is slowly getting bigger, both in terms of follower and producer, in Nepal. With the ever-increasing interest among urban Nepalis for organic food, various aspects of organic farming are also surging. Nepali are now more concerned about what they eat and how they are produced or prepared. Being aware of the fact that quality of the products consumed determines health condition, they are willing to pay for healthy food products. This is one of the major reason there is increasing demand for organic vegetables especially in urban areas. This is apparent when you see the growing number of restaurants in the Kathmandu serving dishes made only from Nepali organic food.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In the present context, population growth, coupled with the drop in food production, has led to the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and other high output technology to increase agro production. The inability of traditionally produced food to meet the day-to-day needs of the growing population has pushed farmers to adopt newer technologies and use chemicals in farming to increase production. However organic farming provides distinct benefits to its consumers and the environment. Despite other benefits that organic products have, Nepal has not been able to harness the potential of this sector besides few commercial crops that serve as examples of organic farming and organic products such as tea, coffee, honey, ginger, cardamom and medicinal herbs.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Steps being taken&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Organic agriculture sector is gaining momentum in Nepal. It possesses great scope for its competitiveness, as Nepal is home to many products, namely spices, essential oils and medicinal plants, fresh fruits and vegetables. &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The National Standard for organic agriculture has also been established and endorsed by the government, and working guidelines for two certification systems (Internal Control System and Participatory Guarantee System) are being developed, both of which will serve as an important instrument for taking advantage of the international and domestic markets. The latter is a certification scheme particularly for small farmers whose products are of high demand in the local market, but who cannot meet the high cost of certification.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<table align="center" width="100">
		<tbody>
			<tr>
				<td>
					<img alt="Farmers working in an organic farm." src="/userfiles/images/fc%20(Copy).jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 550px; height: 210px;" /></td>
			</tr>
			<tr>
				<td bgcolor="#DDDDDD">
					<div align="center">
						<div style="text-align: center;">
							<strong>The Organic Village Kathmandu&rsquo;s product range: Rice, lentils, jams, beans, honey along with different vegetables and fruits and dairy and meat products. Most of the products are grown in mountainous places like Jumla, Humla and Mustang. Some premium products of The Organic Village are Jumli Marsi Rice from Jumla (grown at 2500 m); Kalo Dal (black lentils) from Rasuwa (grown above 2000 m); red rice and yellow rice from Humla; frog meat (called &lsquo;paha&rsquo;). All together, The Organic Village gets its products from 33 districts of the country. It has recently begun exporting organic products of Nepal to the United Kingdom, the Unites States, South Africa and Qatar.</strong></div>
					</div>
				</td>
			</tr>
		</tbody>
	</table>
</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Organic Farms in Kathmandu</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Samir Newa, founder of The Organic Village in Baluwatar, Kathmandu and the pioneer of organic farming in the country said that the interest in organic food products, whether it is fresh apples or vegetables, among the medium-high class families is growing. However, he noted that some people consider organic lifestyle as &lsquo;fashionable&rsquo; rather than actually a way to promote healthy lifestyle.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;A majority of the people are still not aware of &lsquo;organic culture&rsquo; in Kathmandu itself,&rdquo; said Newa adding, &ldquo;Organic food is considered to be out of reach of the public as they are expensive and difficult to find.&rdquo; Similarly, a sample study conducted among 500 medium-class people in the Capital by Newa in 2011 claims that only 34 percent of the respondents had knowledge of organic farming and products. Of them,17 percent respondents partially used organic food products and only four percent completely used such products. &ldquo;The government has failed to come up with friendly policies and programmes to encourage organic farming that would protect public health from unwanted chemicals,&rdquo; Newa said.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The Organic Village was founded in 2003 with the aim of not only growing chemical free food, but also of creating public awareness about the benefits of organic food. The Organic Village is supported by development agencies like UNDP, Winrock International, GTZ, Micro Enterprise Development Program, Small Grants Program. According to Samir Newa, foods grown at high altitude contain less fat than those grown in warm regions.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Emphasis on organic agriculture at policy and programme level looks inadequate for its development and promotion. There is a virtual lack of government support to organic growers and marketers. It is necessary that marketability of any organic products, and that too at a premium price over the traditional and modern products has to be assured before starting the cultivation of organic crops. Mass production of organic products and the business volume for market sale are still invisible. Research work on processing and certification are weak and, in many cases, are missing.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Organic farming has its own shortcomings in Nepal. Poor technical skills and capacity in managing complex farm land problem, insufficient organic technology to support production, lack of research on processing and certification, poor investment capacity, small and fragmented land holding, and less risk bearing capacity among others are the key constraints at the producers&rsquo; level. Poor consumers&rsquo; awareness about organic products, quality and availability, lack of trust regarding the authenticity of the products, higher prices of organic products, impoverished market infrastructure are the constraints at marketers&rsquo; level.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Prospects and Possibilities &nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Organic farming holds out huge prospect in Nepalese context. Co-ordinated efforts among the actors are essential to boost it by meeting the challenges on the way to its development. Suresh Prasad Neupane, Member of Paurakhi Samudayik Krishi Sahakari said, &ldquo;Policy environment and clear long term vision and plan including research, extension, market development and commercialization of this sector are vital for the growth of this sector.&rdquo; Adding that organic industry is too small and has a long way to go in Nepal he said, &ldquo;Political commitments such as avoiding conflicting drive to maximize production, hammering proactive policy, initiating organic technology research, providing market incentives and institutionalization of Nepalese organic movement are imperative to further enhance organic sector in Nepal.&rdquo; &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<table align="center" width="100">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>
				<img alt="Farmers working in an organic farm." src="/userfiles/images/fc1%20(Copy)(4).jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 550px; height: 276px;" /></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td bgcolor="#DDDDDD">
				<div align="center">
					<div style="text-align: center;">
						<div>
							<strong>Farmers working in an organic farm.</strong></div>
					</div>
				</div>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>National level committees are formed for boosting organic farming in Nepal.</strong></span></div>
<div>
	<strong>&bull;<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>National Organic Agriculture Accreditation Body (NOAAB): It accredits and certifies organic products.</strong></div>
<div>
	<strong>&bull;<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>National Coordination Committee for Organic Agriculture Production and Processing System (NCCOAPPS): It helps in strengthening production and processing of organic agriculture.</strong></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2014-01-07',
			'modified' => '2014-01-20',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'Organic food is slowly getting bigger, both in terms of follower and producer, in Nepal. With the ever-increasing interest among urban Nepalis for organic food, various aspects of organic farming are also surging. Nepali are now more concerned about what they eat and how they are produced or prepared. Being aware of the fact that quality of the products consumed determines health condition, they are willing to pay for healthy food products. This is one of the major reason there is increasing demand for organic vegetables especially in urban areas. This is apparent when you see the growing number of restaurants in the Kathmandu serving dishes made only from Nepali organic food.',
			'sortorder' => '2272',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2382',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Bee-Keeping: A Source Of Employment Generation',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The value and importance of bees and honey have increased these days and beekeeping has became an entrepreneurial enterprise that has drawn many farmers towards it. Demand for honey has been increasing in Nepal and corresponding to it, its production is also rapidly increasing. Commercial beekeeping is becoming a reliable source of income-generation for some Nepali farmers.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;In the beginning of this business, one can earn Rs 5,000 per year. This income goes on increasing in the later years,&rdquo; said Raju Khatiwada, Proprieter of Namaste Mount Everest Honey Pvt Ltd. &nbsp;Khatiwada has been earning Rs 800,000 annually from 200 beehives. &ldquo;Initial cost of a hive is Rs 5,000 to 6,000. People may think this as low income, but as years pass by, the profit keeps increasing,&rdquo; Khatiwada added. Apart from buying beehives, which is a capital expenditure, other running expenditures are nominal and in the second year of the business, Khatiwada said that a profit of around Rs 15,000 could be gained.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	However, for commercial beekeeping, an entrepreneur needs to make initial investment of around Rs 400,000, according to Ganesh Basnet, President of Center of Nepal Bee-Keeping Cooperatives Association said. He explained, &ldquo;Commercial beekeeping should be started with at least 40 &ndash; 50 hives, as beehives have to be taken to different places for grazing and transportation expenses are the same whether you have 20 hives or 30 or 50.&rdquo; &rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Profit Generation</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Beekeeping business promises double profit to its entrepreneur within two years of starting the business. Nepal has favourable climate for bee keeping from Hilly to Terai region. Lately, commercial bee keeping is being done in the districts like Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Kaski, Palpa, Parbat, Kailali, Jumla, Sarlahi, Makwanpur, Jhapa, Sunsari, Morang, Surkhet, Kavre, Dang and Pyuthan. Bees are an important part of pollination. While they collect honey, they also play this important role of a pollinator that helps in the reproduction of plants and ultimately in maintaining ecological balance.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Estimates claim that Nepal has around 140,000 to 160,000 hives. Among them around 35,000 hives are Melifera and rest belong to the Serena species, according to Dharma Raj Shrestha, President of Center for Bee Keeping Association Nepal. Entrepreneurs claim that comparatively, Melifera breed is capable of producing more amount of honey in short span of time. Other honeybee species found in Nepal are Himalayan bee, Kathyauri and Ghar Mauri.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Demand Exceeding Production</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Honey entrepreneurs in Nepal have not been able to cater to the increasing demand of honey. Shrestha said Nepali market&rsquo;s annual demand for honey is around four million kg. But government statistics show that only 1.6 million kg of honey is being produced annually in Nepal. Cooperatives have been playing crucial role in the development of the honey industry. &ldquo;Around Rs 1.4 billion has already been invested in the bee keeping business conducted under cooperatives,&rdquo; Basnet said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The commercial bee keeping in Nepal started from 2051 B.S. with the initiation of late King Birendra following his visit to Europe. According to &nbsp;Basnet among total honey produced in Nepal almost half amount is contributed by cooperatives.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Demand for honey from educated families who understand the importance of honey is increasing,&rdquo; Basnet said adding that demand for honey from companies producing Ayurvedic medicines has also been increasing.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Lack of Laboratory&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal is rich in biodiversity, our bees feed on the nectar of flowers and fruits that are not available in many parts of the world but producers are finding it remarkably difficult to meet international standards. There is lack of proper laboratory for the verification of the quality of produced honey. Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) has been testing the quality of honey but honey verified by this department can&rsquo;t be exported in international market as its certificate is still not accepted by many importing countries, said the entrepreneurs.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	They said, &ldquo;The honey produced in Nepalis organic and its demand can highly increase in Nepal if the verification problem is sorted out.&rdquo; Shrestha said, &ldquo;Nepal government is not showing concern for promoting this business.&rdquo; He complains that various government institutions have been approving the distribution of honey without proper investigating its quality and adds that reasons like this have been rendering beekeeping business unsustainable.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Honey producers have realized that they have the potential of creating lucrative niche markets overseas through branding Nepali honey as &lsquo;organic honey&rsquo;, &lsquo;Himalayan honey&rsquo; and &lsquo;honey from the highlands&rsquo; but have been hindered in doing so due to existing set backs in the sector. Entrepreneurs claim beekeeping is yet to establish itself a commercial profession. Lack of proper technical knowledge in prospective beekeepers is another factor that has hindered the business from flourishing in Nepal. Inability to develop new species of honeybees and lack of a government regulatory body in the form of Honey Development Board, has been hindering the sector from flourishing. Presently the sector has been coordinated by cooperatives and establishment of a regulatory body is thought to be a crucial factor for giving it headway.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Though the government has introduced the &nbsp;policy of &lsquo;Bee-keeping for Livelihood&rsquo;, it is not enough for the commercial expansion of this business,&rdquo; Shrestha said.&ldquo;Commercial beekeeping can be conceptualized as prosperous business sector for the promotion and development of this sector,&rdquo; he added. He claimed that lack of proper policy facilitating commercial beekeeping has hindered honey exports to potential international market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="BeeKeeping" src="/userfiles/images/fck1%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 361px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Steps to be taken</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The most important initiative to establish the honey industry is to make beekeeping entrepreneurial. Though production capacity is steadily growing, there is a need for establishing a consulting mechanism and to prepare an action that would ensure that prospective beekeepers can easily access latest technology and resources for expanding their business.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Providing training on beekeeping and production of hives, tools and providing consultation services on the safety of bees, honey production, storage, processing would attract youths for getting involved in this sector and get self-employed.</div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2013-12-31',
			'modified' => '2014-01-20',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'The value and importance of bees and honey have increased these days and beekeeping has became an entrepreneurial enterprise that has drawn many farmers towards it. Demand for honey has been increasing in Nepal and corresponding to it, its production is also rapidly increasing. Commercial beekeeping is becoming a reliable source of income-generation for some Nepali farmers.',
			'sortorder' => '2226',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2342',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Elegant Interiors In Demand',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	For years, the beauty of Nepali homes remained only skin deep. Urban Nepalis beautified the exteriors of their houses, but neglected the interiors. Today&rsquo;s middle-class Nepalis, however, are not only paying greater attention to interiors but demanding simple, smart decor that is durable and easy to maintain. At the start of the new millennium, bright coloured walls and long curtains became popular and turned into immediate status symbols.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	House owners are attracted towards simple yet elegant designs rather than showy, colourful ones. &ldquo;People no longer want furniture and flooring that their friends or colleagues have. They want something unique, yet minimal and are willing to pay for it,&rdquo; says Arpana Baral of The Interiors. &ldquo;Simplicity and elegance are what people believe in and go for it nowadays.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Gone are the days, when construction of a home was solely considered as a great achievement by an urban Nepali. Interior decoration of the house has become a higher priority in recent years. It is believed that a house with perfect interior design can trigger positive vibes among the family members and can also create good impression on the guests.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Interior decoration is no more considered a luxury nowadays. It has become a necessity of urban life,&rdquo; said Sanu Raja Silpakar, President of Interior Designers Association of Nepal. He further added, &ldquo;Change in people&rsquo;s lifestyle, construction of attractive apartments and increasing economic activities have helped in the professional expansion of the interior design sector.&rdquo; He claims that almost 75 per cent of Kathmandu house owners buy furniture after completing interior design of their houses.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Academic Courses on Interior Designing</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The growing number of housing and apartment projects have supported the growth of professionals in this sector. Demand for professional interior designers in this field has increased the number of institutes that offer courses on interior designing in the valley. More than a dozen educational institutions including Shahi Design Academy, Kantipur International College, IEC School of Art and Fashion, International Institute of Fashion Design, are providing interior designing classes.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/fcs1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 483px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Rise in Sales</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Improved Internet access and increased financial standing for travelling has provided Nepali youngsters with easy access to designs from all over the world. They use the Internet to search various interior designs for their homes and due to this homework, they know exactly what they want. High-end furniture like the leather sofas, waterproof furniture for outdoors, and walk in closets are particularly popular among this age-group and the premium price tag does not seem to discourage them.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	With rising purchasing power and more sophisticated tastes, interior decor is no longer about practicality for most middle-class Nepalis. Along with employment opportunities in this sector, demand for raw material for interior designing has also increased to a great extent. Nepal Furniture and Furnishing Association&rsquo;s (NFFA) records show that furniture and furnishing material of around Rs 7-8 billion is used annually in Nepal. &nbsp;Krishna Lal Pradhan, NFFA President said, &ldquo;Of it Rs 4 billion is consumed only by flooring and furnishing materials.&rdquo; He said that increased interest in interior deigning, has directly contributed to the 15 per cent annual growth of this sector. Pradhan assumes, &ldquo;If the interest level of customer towards this sector retains its intensity, furniture and flooring business will double soon.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Raw Material</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepal imports flooring materials from Germany, Canada, Belgium, India, and China. Major countries from where furnishing materials are imported are the Netherlands and Switzerland. &nbsp;Nepal itself also has some facilities that produce furnishing related products.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Traders say that the sales of these materials are largely in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Hundreds of boutique furniture outlets also have mushroomed across the Valley providing clients with numerous choices to choose from local, imported, contemporary, and antique furniture and furnishing goods. Most showrooms have mock ups, or model structures like the one above to simplify decision-making for the consumers. If buyers still feel lost, in-house interior designers work out and come up with customised plans that suit their budget and space.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Increasing Employment</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The increasing construction of apartments, increment in economic transaction and change in the trends of life have increased the employment opportunities in the interior designing sector. According to the statistics of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, around 40,000 new houses are being constructed annually. Similarly, the trend of construction of house outside the valley is also increasing rapidly. The construction of offices, departmental stores, apartments, and housing has helped in expansion of this business.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	In order to attract customers, sanitary ware, furniture, and paint companies hire interior designing professionals to provide interior designing service. This has broadened the employment scope for interior designers. Along with competition, the earning in this sector is also increasing.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/fcs2%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 486px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Attraction of people</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Hectic modern life schedule leaves many Nepalis with lesser time or energy to take care of their homes. As a result, bulky wooden furniture that take weeks to make and assemble are being replaced by easy to assemble and dismantle, light-weight furniture. And despite their higher costs, people are opting for parquet flooring instead of rugs and carpets considering the strenuous maintenance efforts the latter need to upkeep.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	House owners and residents are inclined towards decorating and managing small places and making them attractive, comfortable and cozy. Professionals with busy schedule, are attracted towards services of this sector for their office space and home space.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Though employment opportunities in this sector are increasing, uniformity in this subject&rsquo;s education system has not been seen yet. CTEVT and Tribhuwan University have not prepared any curriculum on this subject. Institutions that provide courses on the subject have self-styled syllabus. This has led to the production of manpower with different potentiality and standards in this sector. This has created problems for skilled manpower to get employed easily.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Similarly, a commonly held notion that interior designing is costly has hindered many aspirants to join the field. Lack of government initiative to create employment opportunities for professionals of this sector is another setback.</div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2013-12-24',
			'modified' => '2013-12-31',
			'keywords' => 'the corporate weekly from Nepal, nepali corporate events – news – interviews – reviews, nepali corporate focus, nepali corporate status and news, news from nepali corporate industry, corporate happenings – events – news from nepal',
			'description' => 'For years, the beauty of Nepali homes remained only skin deep. Urban Nepalis beautified the exteriors of their houses, but neglected the interiors. Today’s middle-class Nepalis, however, are not only paying greater attention to interiors but demanding simple, smart decor that is durable and easy to maintain. At the start of the new millennium, bright coloured walls and long curtains became popular and turned into immediate status symbols.',
			'sortorder' => '2185',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2293',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Domestic Footwear Brands Dominate Market',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
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	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Nepali footwear products have been dominating the domestic market in the recent years. While the consumers have shown interest in using international brand designer shoes, their interest is growing also in made-in-Nepal. Manufacturers claim that locally made shoes account for more than 50 percent of the sales.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	A corresponding growth has been seen in footwear factories too. There are presently around 10 medium-scale footwear factories across the country. Nepali customers are gradually getting attracted towards shoes produced in Nepal for design, and durability of the shoes.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;There has been a healthy growth in the number of &nbsp;buyers for locally manufactured footwear,&rdquo; Ram Krishna Prashain, said Managing Director of Shikhar Shoes, one of the prominent names in the domestic footwear market,. &ldquo;This has been possible due to adaptation of advanced manufacturing technologies, delivery of quality products and keeping up with the expectation of customers,&rdquo; he added. &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Present Status of the Market</strong></span></div>
<div>
	According to Prashain, the domestic market is witnessing a change in the buying pattern of customers. &ldquo;Slowly and steadily, we are seeing more and more people who used to prefer branded products from foreign countries coming to us. And once they use our products, they become regular customers,&rdquo; said Prashain. He added that the company is planning to roll out a new premium brand targeting high-end customers in the near future. &ldquo;Currently, we are carrying out a feasibility study. If we get positive results, we will install a new plant,&rdquo; he said. Products from Shikhar Shoes are priced between &nbsp;Rs 350 andRs 4,000.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Base Footwear, manufacturer of &lsquo;BF dear hill&rsquo; brand of footwear and another prominent player in the domestic market, has also been witnessing enormous success. &ldquo;Almost all the multi-branded footwear stores across the country now feature products from at least one of the domestic brands,&rdquo; said Hom Nath Upadhyay, Managing Director of Base Footwear. He added that the company&rsquo;s annual production comes to 150,000-200,000 pairs. Its products are priced in the range of Rs 450 - Rs 3,500. Base Footwear products range from school and college shoes to party shoes, casual shoes and sports shoes. The company has recently started manufacturing football boots also.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	When asked about the raw material, Upadhyay informs that polyvinyl chloride, and thermoylae rubbers around 80 per cent of Nepal&rsquo;s leather requirement is fulfilled by imports from Thailand, China and India, while 20 per cent is produced in Nepal itself. The other major raw material such as polyurifine, polyvinyl chloride, and thermopoly rubbers too are imported. Upadhyay said that domestic products presently occupy 55 per cent of the Nepali leather goods and footwear market. He is optimistic that the domestic brands will occupy more share of the market in the days ahead as demand for these products continues to surge due to comparatively affordable prices than imported products while the quality of the domestic products is comparable with the imported ones. In fact, while the leather used in the Nepal-made shoes is genuine, the imported shoes may be using imitate on leather which is difficult for the ordinary people to identify. He said, &ldquo;In terms of price, our competition is with those imports that use fake international brand names.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	People usually buy the Chinese-made &ldquo;international brands&rdquo; which are not as good as the authentic brands. They bear the logos of popular international brands, but they are counterfeit products. Claiming that the domestic footwear manufacturers are offering better affordability, better quality and better designs than the Chinese imitations, Upadhyay encourages consumers to buy domestic products instead of running behind so called branded and designers&rsquo; products. He said, &ldquo;People have to understand that they can have Nepali genuine products for the same price that they pay for those fake products.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The domestic footwear makers has started manufacturing sports and casual shoes as well while till recently they were producing mainly for school children. Manufacturers say that increasing buyer confidence had inspired them to try their hand at new products. &ldquo;We are now planning to expand the product line-up in the casual and sports series,&rdquo; said Prashain. &ldquo;We are about to install a new plant to manufacture ladies footwear. We are in the final stages of our preparation to produce rubber boots.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Imported Raw Materials</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Eighty percent of the raw material is imported. And 40 per cent of it comes from China, 30 per cent from India and the remaining from other nations. At present, Nepal produces only 20 per cent of the raw material the industry needs.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	According to a survey conducted by Leather Footwear and Goods Manufacturers&rsquo; Association Nepal (LFGMAN) an average single Nepali spends Rs 2500 annually on shoes. Hom Nath Upadhyay, also the President of LFGMAN said, &ldquo;That means, when you think about the entire population, the annual spending of Nepali population on shoes is huge. If Nepali products are promoted, we can prevent that money from going outside the country.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;&ldquo;We are looking forward to be self-dependent in leather goods and footwear. If we can achieve that, it will be very helpful to the economy. Besides, this will create more employment opportunities in Nepal itself,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/fc1%20(Copy)(2).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 318px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems &amp; Challenges&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Despite having deeper penetration in the domestic footwear market, Nepali shoe manufacturers claim that they could do even better if their concerns are addressed properly. Unfair customs duty on raw materials and unavailability of skilled manpower are their major concerns, which if addressed by the government, they say, could enable them to outshine foreign products in the domestic market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Upadhyay said that shortage of skilled and efficient manpower has been the major problem in this sector.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Energy crisis is another challenge for us. We don&rsquo;t have local industries that produce raw material for our industry. Even in case of imported raw material, we do not have sufficient supply,&rdquo; &nbsp; he said. Moreover, &nbsp;some of these raw material are heavily taxed making the final products expensive.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Elaborating further on their concerns, he said undeterred huge import of Chinese counterfeit products is another major problem. &ldquo;If such import is discouraged, Nepali brands will have a better market,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Sharing his experience of retaining the market, he said &ldquo;We have to look for new designs and trends continuously. Shoes go out of fashion very soon and we have to tap trending designs to retain our customers. This includes updating our manufacturing technology and marketing patterns. We just have to be moving, and we cannot rest. This makes it a tough job,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Stressing on the role of government for the promotion of the footwear market in Nepal, Upadhyay said, &ldquo;The government should give more priority to this sector and create favourable environment for it. This sector makes use of Nepali skill and labour. There is no foreign investment here, so we can say we are a true Nepali business sector.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;People should show their love to domestic products by giving them a try. We need more support and feedback from our customers to serve them better products in the days to come.&rdquo;</div>',
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			'description' => 'Nepali footwear products have been dominating the domestic market in the recent years. While the consumers have shown interest in using international brand designer shoes, their interest is growing also in made-in-Nepal. Manufacturers claim that locally made shoes account for more than 50 percent of the sales.',
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2252',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Sanitary Ware Business Generating Employment',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	While families spend huge part of their income to furnish and decorate bedrooms and living rooms, bathrooms were usually an afterthought, tucked away in a dark aloof corner of the house. Urban Nepali have been realizing the importance of hygienic and airy bathrooms. People have started prioritizing bathroom locations and installing modern hygienic bathroom accessories. This trend has increased sanitary ware business in Nepal especially in urban areas.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Bathrooms reflect an owner&rsquo;s lifestyle. Having a luxurious, professionally designed living room can&rsquo;t create a good impression if your guest can follow his/her nose to the bathroom. &ldquo;Architects and home-owners are slowly beginning to give priority to bathrooms,&rdquo; Yogendra Bajracharya of Nepal Marble Bath House, which has been in sanitary ware business for the last 16 years, said. He adds, &ldquo;Urban Nepali are becoming increasingly conscious about design and use of space and are even willing to spend big bucks.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Variety of Stores in the Market</strong></span></div>
<div>
	With the awareness about hygienic bathrooms raising in the people, sanitary ware stores are also mushrooming in the market. Sanitary wares business is booming and some of these stores are making good profit.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Home Furnishers Pvt Ltd at Tripureshwor has all kind of branded fixtures and fittings products such as commode, wash basin, faucets, bathroom accessories, shower curtains and curtain rods, bathtubs, wall and floor tiles, electric water heaters and many more. The company imports brands like Mogen, Hansa, Ridder, Kaldewi, Justime, Navarti, Ariston and Dia Safe from Thailand, Germany, Taiwan, Spain, Italy and Korea respectively.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rajendra Shrestha, Manager Director of the company informed that sales increased by 20 per cent as compared to same period of last year. Targeted at high-end and middle high class customers, Home Furnishers provides warranty of 10 to 30 years. Corresponding to higher cost prices of the product, he says the high cost is justified by quality of the product.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Somany &mdash; an Indian brand for faucets, sanitary wares and tiles offers economic and luxurious range of products. Tiles are their most popular product in their portfolio and are sold mostly in September, Samish Maskey, director &nbsp;of Somany Studio at Koteshworsaid. Faucets, commodes, wash basin, Jacuzzi, among others are available at the store. The company provides 10 years of warranty on every product. Maskey informed that the company regularly updates their product range to ensure that their customers get to choose from the trendiest designs in the market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Bajra and Bajracharya Enterprises (BBE) at Lagankhel trades in a variety range of products of Kohler, Leno, Porcelanosa, CRW, Nova, Halcon, Kludi, Yojo and others in fixtures and fittings. Anuj Maskey, marketing officer at BBE, says that they have a wide range of products that can suit the needs of people from all walks of life. The merchandises at the store are imported from India, China, US, Germany and Spain.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	With a diverse range of innovative products, clients don&rsquo;t have to compromise on design and even smaller bathrooms can be cleverly utilised. &ldquo;Products like shower enclosures have revolutionised bathing and added elegance to bathrooms,&rdquo; Rajesh Budhiya of Rukmani International, said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Slippery tiles and sharp edges make bathrooms accident-prone spaces, especially for the elderly. Now new designs can be incorporated to improve safety. &ldquo;Coarse bathroom tiles made of non-glazed ceramics can be used to minimise slipperiness of bathroom tiles,&rdquo; Birbal Dugar of Dugar Iron and Steels, explained. &ldquo;We offer innovative taps which automatically set the water temperature below 400 degree Celcius,&rdquo; Budhiya added.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Hygienic and easy&ndash;to-clean facilities are also widely available. &ldquo;Rust proof PVC pipes which donot allow bacteria to breed inside their inner surfaces are very popular these days,&rdquo; BijayaRai of Mangalam industries, says.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Price of Sanitary ware</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Sanitary ware stores in the capital offer an extensive range of products in contemporary designs with high safety features, catering to the demands of urban homes. While durability is still the most important factor, store owners say customers now think about aesthetics as well. &ldquo;Most of our customers&rsquo; still look for the mid ranged sanitary products and prefer durability over style,&rdquo; Sanjay Kedia of Rajesh Sanitary Ware said. However there is gradual rise in the demand for high end goods like Jacuzzis, steam cabin and shower enclosures.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The product range of sanitary wares varies from company to company according to quality and preferences of the customers. Sanitary stores in Kathmandu mostly target high and middle class people as their customers.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The price of sanitary wares at Home Furnishers Pvt Ltd ranges from Rs 23,500 to Rs 85,000, while faucets are priced at Rs 12,700 to Rs 53,000. Their anti-bacteria and machine washable shower curtains and curtain rods from Ridder brands are priced between Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,700. The steel ceramic enamel bathtub cost between Rs 35,000 to Rs 38,000.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	The faucets at Somany Studio are priced between Rs 2,000 to Rs 60,000 while commodes are cost Rs 8,000 to Rs 150,000. The price of wash basins available at the store range from Rs 2,100 up to Rs 50,000 while that of Jacuzzi range from Rs 165,000 to Rs 250,000.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong><img alt="" src="/userfiles/images/fc1%20(Copy)(1).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 239px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></strong></span></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Employment Generation</strong></span></div>
<div>
	With the surge in construction of modern buildings, employment opportunities related to sanitary wares have been also increasing. According to the statistics of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC), around 40,000 houses are being constructed in Kathmandu valley annually. Similarly, construction of houses task outside valley has also been increasing in same pace. This has been contributing to employment and income generation activities in this sector.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Indrakumar Nakarmi, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation officer at Skill Nepal, said that the internal re-structuring of houses also have supported to the growth of this business. &ldquo;An old-design house consisted only of a single bathroom but modern-design houses these days have bathroom in each flat and some even have bathroom attached to bedroom,&rdquo; he added. This has also contributed to the increase in employment generation activities.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Increasing Sales</strong></span></div>
<div>
	The real estate business had slowed down some years earlier due to various reasons. But it is recovering gradually nowdays. A corresponding effect of this business is also seen in sanitary ware business. Komal Mainali, Managing Director of Business Concerns Pvt Ltd, said that the sales of sanitary ware products have increased at the rate of 10 to 12 per cent annually in last few years.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Nepal&rsquo;s sanitary ware industry relies heavily on imports from China, India, Spain and Italy. While custom duty on bathroom installations is low, duty on tiles can reach up to 70 per cent.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Lack of awareness of the people outside the valley has been hindering expansion of the business outside valley, traders in the niche say. Along with that it has been hard for any brand to maintain its reputation in the market due to the unequal and unhealthy competition primarily triggered due to the mushrooming of sanitary ware companies in the market.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Rajendra Shrestha, Managing Director of Home Furnishers, says, &ldquo;Political instability, weak economy, stagnancy in real estate industry and decreasing purchasing power of the customers are factors affecting the sanitary ware business.&rdquo;However, traders are still doing good business due to apartment and hotel construction. Renovation of older houses that look for accommodating better furnished modern bathrooms is another major factor that keeps the trading graph up the hill.</div>',
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			'description' => 'While families spend huge part of their income to furnish and decorate bedrooms and living rooms, bathrooms were usually an afterthought, tucked away in a dark aloof corner of the house. Urban Nepali have been realizing the importance of hygienic and airy bathrooms.',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '2211',
			'article_category_id' => '153',
			'title' => 'Furniture From Abroad Abounds',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<strong>--By Suraksha Adhikari&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	W<span style="font-size: 12px;">ith changing lifestyle and higher spending ability, demand for finest furniture, that make social statement, is growing in Nepal among city dwellers. Certain segment of urban dwellers, are increasingly getting interested in designer furniture for interior decoration of their house. As designer furniture is becoming synonymous to status statement, higher standards and better comfort is sought. This has led to the rise in import of international designer furniture brands.&nbsp;</span></div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;&ldquo;Nepali market is gradually moving towards imported furniture as they are cheaper by almost 50 per cent in comparison to local wood furniture. Affordable pricing, attractive looks and suitability for interior design and adjustable fittings are reasons of growing preference for imported furniture,&rdquo; Surendra Kumar Sharda, Senior Vice-President of Nepal Furniture and Furnishing Association (NFFA), said while elaborating current trend in the sector. &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Though demand for designer furniture is increasing, a lack of investment in producing such furnitures within the nation is seen. &ldquo;Accepting the fact that furniture industry is moving towards greater dependency on import in the last five years, industrialists are not interested in taking risk by investing and establishing manufacturing units. For them imported readymade furniture trading is an easy and secured means of doing business,&rdquo; Sharda said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Customer Preferences</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Demand for imported furniture in the Kathmandu valley has been rising significantly with consumers getting more conscious about creating a unique look for their homes. The shift in preference can be measured by the fact that more than four dozen furniture stores dealing in imported products have been trading in the valley.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Furniture stores which started with a limited product range now are expanding their entire stock ranging from office furniture, to kid&rsquo;s special furniture along with sofa sets, TV cabinets and bedroom sets, to name a few. Apart from wood, modern furniture use various materials like steel, plastic, tubular steel, leather straps, laminates, glasses, molded plywood and synthetic wood to give a stylish finish and light weight.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Both local and Chinese furniture, have their own separate markets with their individual advantages and disadvantages. Locally made furniture is preferred for its durability and quality of wood. But when it comes to design, decorative options, purpose-fulfillment and affordability the market swings to Chinese furniture.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Responding to varied backgrounds and demands of customers, some furniture traders trade domestic and imported furniture. Their catch remains to retain customers by catering to their specific demands. Suresh Shrestha, Managing Director of Bira Furniture, informs that they include both local as well as imported furniture in their showroom, to fulfill demands of the varied customers.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Variety in Furniture</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Furniture stores across the nation today offer variety in furniture depending on custom needs, demands and pocket. With an assorted variety of designer furniture available at various price range, they are making difference when designing a house. No matter how low the budget is, these furniture still provide an unique and stylish look.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Various factors including availability of numerous designs and superior finishing has helped in raising demand for imported furniture,&rdquo; Shrestha said. Apart from this, competitive prices have played a crucial role in increasing sales of imported furniture, he added. &nbsp; &nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;Demand for local furniture seems a little down since the last two years. Possible factors contributing in it are lower growth in land transactions and real estate development, gradual influx and growing popularity of Chinese furniture in the market,&rdquo; Gobinda Timilsina, a Sales Representative at Varieties Traders, Kumaripati, said. &ldquo;The government is not sensitive towards the problem faced by the furniture industry. Despite huge scope, lack of everything is hitting the domestic furniture industry.&rdquo;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Domestic Furniture&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Nepali furniture industry uses saal, sisau, utis, and mango wood for the production of furniture. Other raw materials are imported from India, China and Malaysia. Size, quality and design determine the price. There are different varieties of furniture available in the market from sofas and beds to designate cupboards and office tables. The price range of local made sofa set starts from Rs 8,000 to Rs 46,000; cupboard starts from Rs 9,000. Prices differ depending upon length, height and style.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Traders said that the country&rsquo;s furniture market is worth around Rs 1 billion annually and that the industry is growing by around 25 percent. Most of the imported furniture available in the market comes from China. Traders said that Chinese furniture accounts for more than 80 percent of the imported furniture market. Furniture from places like India, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia too are popular in the domestic market. As for premium products, most are imported from Europe.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Imported Products&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Around 60 per cent of the furniture and furnishing products available in Nepal are imported. The imported goods include flooring, furnishing (except carpets), furniture and d&eacute;cor items. &ldquo;While imports have swelled over the years, domestic production is declining consistently,&rdquo; Kabindra Joshi, General Secretary of NFFA, said.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	While overpopulation, triggered due to excessive migration of people to different urban centres in Nepal, has resulted in increased demand for furniture, domestic manufacturers have not been able to meet it. &ldquo;Decline in domestic production has not stopped people from buying furniture and hence, traders are increasingly depending on imported products to meet the market demand,&rdquo; Joshi added.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Manufacturers allege that lack of skilled craftsmen, power cuts, non-availability of raw materials and absence of a favourable government policy are major reasons for the decline of domestic production. They stress on the need of a proper government mechanism to boost domestic furniture industry while pointing to nation&rsquo;s volatile political environment as a crucial factor contributing to decline in their business.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Problems and Challenges&nbsp;</strong></span></div>
<div>
	Lack of qualified labour and skilled manpower is another reason why the industry is diminishing here in Nepal. Traders said that the trend of youth going abroad has created labour scarcity. If the gap is not filled sooner, this will result in bigger problems.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Similarly, lack of big factories which can produce furniture on large scaled and compete with products imported from China and other nations, in terms of production, price, and design has diminished market for domestic products. &ldquo;We are manufacturing in small quantities using traditional methods and that is not really sufficient to survive the competition,&rdquo; Sharda said. He feels that domestic furniture manufacturing industry needs technological improvement to survive the competition.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Like other industries, this industry also has been hit power shortage. &ldquo;We are also suffering from long hours of power cut. Power cut has hindered us to supply products on stipulated time. This has been a great set back for our business,&rdquo; Shrestha complained.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Mushrooming furniture trading shops and cut throat competition are a threat to the business.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Future Prospects</strong></span></div>
<div>
	An investment of Rs 20 billion has already been made in the domestic furniture and furnishing industry, Joshi said while informing that they &ldquo;are working on a strategy to approach the government and acquire its attention towards the welfare of the industry.&rdquo;&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	Apart from the cultural and historical significances, traditional furniture industry can also be a considerable boost to the economy of the country, if it is runs smoothly. Joshi said that the domestic manufacturers, if encouraged and treated properly, have the potential to export, while fulfilling local demand.&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	&ldquo;The furniture and furnishing industry can look for better days ahead as its products have positioned themselves as &nbsp;people&rsquo;s necessities rather than luxury,&rdquo; claimed Joshi. He said that housing and real estate, residences, office complexes, hotels and restaurants, schools and colleges and development projects are booming market for the furniture and furnishing industry.</div>
<div>
	&nbsp;</div>
<div>
	<img alt="Focus News" src="/userfiles/images/fcs%20(Copy).jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 418px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></div>',
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			'description' => 'With changing lifestyle and higher spending ability, demand for finest furniture, that make social statement, is growing in Nepal among city dwellers. Certain segment of urban dwellers, are increasingly getting interested in designer furniture for interior decoration of their house.',
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$current_user = null
$logged_in = false
$xml = false
simplexml_load_file - [internal], line ??
include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133
View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971
View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933
View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224
View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418
include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157
View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971
View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933
View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473
Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968
Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200
Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167
[main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117