The new exercise is being undertaken after the government and the private sector converged over a need of a strategy to address changes in condition seen in the global markets over the last five years and more focused plan of action was required for doing away with local supply side constraints.
The Strategy will focus on developing supply capacity in competitive sectors by offering export potential, enhancing capacity of the exporters to trade in the key markets and strengthening institutions intended to facilitate the export trade.
Thiery Noyelle, a consultant from the US, said NTSI 2009 would assess the challenges being faced by country´s export trade, both at the domestic and external fronts, and will have export potential assessment report for key manufacturing, agricultural products and services, among others.
“It will chalk out an action matrix that will chart out actionable recommendations on trade support institutions, non-tariff barriers, intellectual property rights, trade facilitation and investment for the government, private sector and donors to act upon,” he said, addressing a program on Wednesday.
The field work for the study is scheduled to end by February 2010 and the NTIS is expected to be launched in March 2010.
The study is being done at a time when the country´s key commodities are performing badly in the international markets, exports have dwindled and the trade deficit is rapidly surpassing the remittance income growth rate.
“This is a critical time, and the need to develop trade is still more pressing because Nepal needs it for creating employment, achieving equitable human development, inclusive growth, poverty reduction and strengthening peace,” said Anne-Isabelle D Blateau, country director of UNDP, the local donor facilitator.
She also urged the government to show strong commitment to implement the action plan to be recommended by the strategy.
Commerce Ministry officials sought NTSI to lay down concrete actions for different stakeholders, including the government, the private sector entrepreneurs and the development partners, to act upon.
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