LO MANTHANG, MUSTANG, June 17: A modern fiber de-dusting plant has been established in Lo Manthang, Mustang district. The plant aims at enhancing the collection of high-quality fiber locally for Pashmina production.

British Ambassador to Nepal Rob Fenn, along with Chairman of Lo Manthang Rural Municipality Tashi Nhurbu Gurung, and Deputy Chairman Chhyumi Bista jointly inaugurated the plant on Sunday in Lo Manthang.

Established by the Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA) with support from the United Kingdom Trade Partnership Programme Nepal (UKTP-Nepal) and the International Trade Centre, the plant is expected to play a crucial role in bolstering the supply of premium Chyangra fiber for Nepal’s Pashmina production and exports.

During the inauguration, Ambassador Fenn expressed delight in contributing to the development of Nepal’s Chyangra brand across the entire value chain, from farming to fashion. "The UK has been actively engaged downstream, accompanying Nepali Chyangra entrepreneurs to events like London Source Fashion Week. Now, I'm delighted to participate upstream - specifically along the Kali Gandaki River - to meet farmers in Upper Mustang. I can now share the entire story of the value chain. Beyond the inherent quality of ‘100% Chyangra,’ it’s the remarkable narratives woven around ‘Made in Nepal’ products that provide a competitive edge in UK markets," Fenn remarked.

Additionally, Ambassador Fenn observed and initiated the Chyangra fiber harvesting process in Lo Manthang.

Dhan Prasad Lamichhane, president of the Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA), highlighted the efforts of Pashmina entrepreneurs to integrate local Chyangra farmers into the Pashmina value chain, ensuring better prices and access to markets. He also expressed the association’s commitment to collaborating with the Government of Nepal and development partners such as UKTP and the International Trade Centre to strengthen both backward and forward linkages in the Pashmina value chain.

Recognizing Chyangra Pashmina as a high-potential export product, the Government of Nepal launched the Nepal Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy 2022-2026 last year, aiming to increase Pashmina exports to USD 75 million by 2026. Recently, the government also released the Pashmina Export Facilitation Guide, targeting SMEs involved in Pashmina exports.