According to the recent statistics released by the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN), during the first five months of the current fiscal year, the Export of metal and wooden crafts increased by 203.9% compared to the same period in the last fiscal year. Pushkar Man Shakya, immediate past president of FHAN, viewed that the removal of the export ban on metal craft to China and the increased participation of Nepali handicraft producers in international trade fairs were the reasons for the surge in the export. Also, he opined that the export of wooden goods would further increase, if there were a provision of fumigation certification. Similarly, the export of handmade paper and paper products as well as Pashmina products recorded a positive growth of 119.1% and 30.8% respectively.However, the export of silverware and jewellery dropped by 31.1% due to the mixing of cadmium in silver products. FHAN has already started lobbying for cadmium testing facility and ‘cadmium free certification’.
Source: The Kathmandu Post