A comprehensive guide for Pashmina export has been launched, aiming to facilitate small-scale businesses in Nepal.

The trade facilitation guide to export Pashmina from Nepal was jointly unveiled by Myriam Ferran, deputy director general for International Partnerships of European Commission; Ambassador of the European Union to Nepal Veronique Lorenzo; Baburam Adhikari, joint-secretary at the Ministry of Industry; and Dhan Prasad Lamichhane, president of the Nepal Pashmina Industries Association, amid a function organised at the Nepal Pashmina Fibre Processing Facility in Lalitpur on Tuesday.

The fibre processing facility, established with technical support from the EU-Nepal Trade and Investment Programme, was also inaugurated at the same event. The plant has been processing fibre collected from Chyangra farmers and supplying it to Pashmina producers.

As part of the European Union’s broader support to strengthening the Pashmina value chain, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies developed the guide with technical support from the EU-Nepal Trade and Investment Programme implemented by the International Trade Centre.

This guide is specifically tailored to enhance Nepal's Pashmina export endeavours in major international markets such as Japan, the European Union, the US, and the UK.

The guide explains step-by-step processes, encompassing firm registration, licensing, directives, customs, shipment, and logistics procedures. Moreover, it offers insights into the import requirements specified by destination countries, shedding light on tariffs, quality standards, shipping costs, timeframes, and the essential documents needed, along with other crucial trade information.

The ‘Nepal Trade Integration Strategy 2023’ identifies Chyangra Pashmina as a highly prioritised exportable product. Similarly, the 'Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy 2022-2026' aims to elevate Pashmina exports to the $75 million mark by 2026.

Speaking on the occasion, Joint-secretary Adhikari said, “Nepal’s Himalayan Chyangra Pashmina holds a distinguished position in the international market due to its unique quality and cultural significance. The government of Nepal has designated Pashmina as one of the high-priority exportable products. The guide is poised to become a useful source of information about the process for Nepali Pashmina exports, offering comprehensive information about our destination markets.”

Ferran said, “As a longstanding partner in Nepal's development journey, the European Union reaffirms its unwavering dedication to bolstering Nepal's prosperity through enhanced trade and investment avenues. This comprehensive guide serves as an instrument to support the Pashmina value chain to harness the immense potential of Nepal’s Chyangra Pashmian in the international market.”