Furniture business an important sector of economy: Dr. Mahat

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Dec. 31: Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat has said that furniture business is an important sector of economic activity. While addressing the 9th annual general meeting and the 5th convention of the Federation of Nepal Furniture and Furnishing Entrepreneurs Association, Finance Minister Dr. Mahat said, “Although 45 per cent of the land in Nepal is covered by forest, we do need to import furniture from abroad.”

However, he said that importing furniture from abroad and using steel furniture instead of wood is not pleasant for us. “We can become independent in the field of furniture. There is also a lot of potential for export as well. Nepal is also prosperous in terms of art and culture. We can manufacture special types of furniture, which can be in high demand abroad,” Minister Dr. Mahat said.

He said that the government is determined to encourage and promote the furniture and furnishing business. “According to the policy of the government, high customs duty is imposed on ready-made goods, but low customs duty is levied on imported raw materials. The government has adopted this policy so that this industry can flourish,” he said.

Stating that there is a policy of the government to protect the domestic industry, he, however, noted that imported furniture was being used in government offices or private houses despite the government’s policy. Even though the furniture imported from abroad looks good, it is not durable, he said.

Finance Minister Dr. Mahat said that it was important for us to inform the consumers about the quality differences of furniture and furnishing goods produced inside the country and imported from abroad.

“It has been said that there is a problem in the furniture industry due to laws, rules and regulations, and the government is trying to remove them. We should help facilitate the domestic industry,” he said.

He said that the system of wood in the forest going to waste and not being used should be tackled. “We have to work to compete with imported goods. We have to be self-reliant in this business and export furniture abroad,” he said.