Nepal to showcase ready-made garments in US fashion fair

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb. 9: A 6-member delegation led by Pashupati Dev Pandey, President of the Garment Association of Nepal is scheduled to participate at the 'Sourcing at Magic' fair to be held in Las Vegas, USA, from February 13 to 15. 

Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC) will also participate in this fair as a representative of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies of the Government of Nepal.

The fair is considered as the most comprehensive fashion marketplace in the US to showcase apparel, footwear, accessories and sourcing resources from around the world. 

Pandey is representing Pure Clothing at the fair while others include Basant Raj Adhikari of Himalayan Cotton and Fashion International Pvt. Ltd., Thomnath Basyal of United Fashion and Knitting Pvt. Ltd., Shiva Prasad Bhatta of Shivshakti Garment Pvt. Ltd., Suresh Man Shrestha of Jamfa Knitting Industries Pvt. Ltd., and Ganesh Raj Pandey of Setidevi Export and Import Pvt. Ltd.

Nepali delegation will display Nepali ready-made dresses produced by their respective industries. It is expected that the association's participation in the fair, which is considered important in the world fashion market, will help to promote the market of the Nepali ready-made clothing industry, Pandey said at a press conference organised by GAN on Thursday.

The fair will help identify possible additional markets through the actions of conducting meetings with other external buyers present at the fair.

The US was the largest market for Nepali garments with about US$ 400 million annual export in 2001/02 but it has come down to about $70 million now. 

Implementation of Multi-Fibre Agreement with the USA boosted the export of Nepali garments there. 

To revive the industry again, GAN suggested the government simplify the process of cash incentives on exports, provide a 5 per cent subsidy on the interest rate of loans mobilised to the industry, invest in skill development training, and implement the national payment gateway at the earliest.