April 7: Nepal has exported footwear products worth Rs 8.3 billion in the last five years. According to the data provided by Trade and Export Promotion Center, the country exported footwear of Rs 8.3 billion between fiscal year 2070/71 and 2074/75.

In fiscal year 2070/71 alone, footwear worth Rs 1.93 billion were exported by the country. The export increased by Rs 400 million in fiscal year 2071/72 to Rs 2.34 billion. However, the export since then has declined continually.  

At present, the local footwear industries of Nepal supply 62 percent of the total demand in the domestic market. Similarly, footwear supplies imported from India, China, Europe and Middle Asian countries fill the remaining 38 percent demand.

According to the Footwear Manufacturing Association of Nepal, entrepreneurs in Nepal have injected more than Rs 20 billion in the footwear industry while the government under its Integrated Business Strategy has listed footwear products amongst nine major export items of the country.