KATHMANDU, June 28: Nepali Pashmina entrepreneurs and Mongolian officials have reached an understanding to collaborate for quality testing and analysis of wool fibers and for exchanging knowledge and research works in this sector. 

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA) and the Research and Development Institute of Light Industry (RDILI) of the Mongolian government in Ulaanbaatar on Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.  

Vijay Dugar, the president of the NPIA, and Turmunkh Togmid, the director of the RDILI, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective agencies. The MoU was signed in the presence of Madhu Kumar Marasini, secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and JambaltserenTumur-Uya, state secretary at the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia.

Under the MoU, Nepali pashmina entrepreneurs will get samples of Pashmina fiber, semi-processed wools, and woolen products tested and analyzed by RDILI in Mongolia. Similarly, both parties have also agreed to share experiences, knowledge, and research works with each other in the coming days. The five-year term MoU took effect from the day of the signing, subject to extension upon mutual understanding between both parties, according to MoICS officials.

The MoU was signed on the sideline of the World Export Development Forum (WEDF) 2023 organized by the International Trade Centre in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, which was also attended by a Nepali delegation involving senior government officials and private sector representatives.

The event offered diverse sessions aimed at discussing a wide range of issues pertaining to the export promotion of the least-developed countries. Businesspeople, policymakers, representatives of development partner agencies, and experts discussed regional business connectivity, business voices of landlocked countries, business networking, youth and women participation in businesses, and digital transformation with local innovation.

The EU-funded Trade and Investment supported the participation of Nepali Pashmina entrepreneurs at the four-day event that kicked off on Monday. NPIA was among the 130 companies which participated in the B2B meetings during the WEDF in Mongolia.

Addressing the MoU signing ceremony, Secretary Marasini said the MoU is a significant step towards securing benefits from Mongolia's experience in woolen and Cashmere production and export and exchanges of various researches and innovation in this field.

Jambaltseren Tumur-Uya, director of RDILI, said, “The MoU has paved the way for Mongolia’s support in quality testing and analysis of Nepali Cashmere products from Nepal, expansion of business relations between the two countries and, exchange of knowledge and research works in this field.”

On the occasion, NPIA President Dugar, said that the MoU provides an opportunity for Nepali Pashmina entrepreneurs to take benefits from the long experience and expertise of Mongolia which is a leading producer and exporter of Cashmere and woolen products.

Secretaries discuss LLDC-issues

Secretary of Government of Nepal, Marasini, and State Secretary of Mongolia Jambaltseren Tumur-Uya discussed the concerns to be raised by the Landlocked Developed Countries (LLDCs) at international forums. Both officials also stressed the need to establish solidarity among LLDCs to uphold their common interests and agenda. Both the secretaries also shared views on making the 3rd conference of LLDCs being held in Kigali, Rwanda in 2024, productive and fruitful.

The LLDCs National Focal Points meeting is also being held in the margins of the World Export Development Forum in Ulaanbaatar.

 
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