Traders say only a year back tourists from Germany, Italy, France, UK were the largest customers of Nepal-made exportable Pashmina sold in domestic market. [break]
"As per our estimate, Chinese tourists may have bought high quality Nepali Pashmina worth Rs 400 million last year (in 2011) out of total sale of such Pashmina items worth Rs 1 billion in the local market. This is an indicator that there exists huge potentials for Chyangra Pashmina in the Chinese market," Pushpa Man Shrestha, President of Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA), told Republica.
Sale of Pashmina to Chinese tourists during 2011 is estimated to have grown by over 40 percent, making them the largest foreign buyers of Pashmina in domestic market.
The number of Chinese tourists, most of whom belong to middle and higher income groups, has shot up significantly by 77.6 percent to 45,400 during 2011, compared to the year before. According to tourism entrepreneurs, per day spending of a Chinese tourist in Nepal is around US$ 80.
Shrestha said a sharp rise in quality Chinese tourists to Nepal and the registration of Nepali Chyangra Pashmina trademark in 40 countries have boosted the Nepali Pashmina industries to the earlier peak export of Rs 5.27 billion in the fiscal year 2000/01. NPIA is trying to register the trademark in Brazil, Russia, South Africa, China, Taiwan and the UAE.
"Given the positive response from international buyers, we can bounce back to the position of 2000/01 when we enjoyed the highest-ever export of Nepali Chyngra Pashmina. But we need government support in promotion and designing of exportable Pashmina," said Shrestha.
Shrestha also demanded that the government provide support for promotion of Pashmina abroad and for establishing a design center in the country to ensure exclusive designs for Pashmina products.
According to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), exports of Nepali Chyangra Pashmina rose to Rs 1373.1 million during the first five months of the current fiscal year 2011/12, up from Rs 755.4 million in the previous fiscal year.
"We have put forward such demands in the Nepal Business Forum (NBF) meeting today (Sunday). The meeting decided to organize a workshop within a week on problems and opportunities in the Pashmina sector," said Shrestha.
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