February 24: Nepal imported potato chips worth over Rs 100 million in the last fiscal year. The massive import of potato chips, which can be produced with little investment and manpower, indicates that the country has not given proper attention on production of potato chips to meet the internal demand.

In this context, entrepreneurs need soul searching on ways to produce potato chips that meet the international standard. The government also needs to support entrepreneurs in producing the product in the domestic market.

According to the Trade and Export Promotion Centre, Nepal imported potato chips worth Rs 103,950,000 during the review period, out of which Malaysia was the biggest supplier for its share of potato chips worth Rs 61,137,000. Other notable suppliers of potato chips include USA (Rs 28,001,000), China (Rs 7,211,000), UK (Rs 4,498,000),  India (Rs 1,479,000), and Bangladesh (Rs 984,000).

During the FY 2016/17, Nepal imported potato chips worth Rs 70, 559,000 while the import of the same product the previous year was Rs 51,858,000. Likewise, Nepal had imported potato chips worth Rs 51,631,000 in FY 2014/15 and Rs 88,964,000 in FY 2013/14