August 12: Handicraft entrepreneurs have been obliged to pay three times high fare while exporting their products through chartered flights operated from Nepal for international rescue missions.  

The handicraft products produced in Nepal are exported to more than 50 countries including China, Japan, the USA, and the UK. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the export has been badly affected.

Some products like pashmina, felt and wood carvings, which were ordered before the lockdown, are being exported to limited countries even by paying high fare. Among 42 different types of handicraft items, only around 20-22 types are being exported at present.

The fare for each country has increased than during the normal situation. President of Export Council of Nepal, Hari Bahadur Karki, said that the fare has become expensive because only chartered flights are available at present. According to him, the previous fare to the US was $3 per kg but now it costs around $9-$10.

Likewise, the fare for Bhutan was $1 per kg which has increased to $4. The fare for Japan was $2 but now has shot up to $4, and the regular cost of $3 per kg to the UK, now costs $7 and it costs $8-$9 per kg to Germany instead of the normal fare of $3.

Surendra Bhai Shakya, of the Federation of Handicraft Association of Nepal (FHAN), says only 5 percent export is done at present to 18 countries including China, the USA, the UK, Germany, Bhutan, and Japan.

“We cannot look at the present situation alone. We have to think about the future as well, so we must export goods at any cost,” he said. Entrepreneurs are obliged to export some items made of metal craft, felt and fiber even by paying more than the production cost.