Why Are Ready-Made Garment Manufacturers Encouraged After One Hour of Discussion with Prime Minister?

5 Shrawan, Kathmandu – Ready-made garment manufacturers expressed renewed enthusiasm after a one-hour discussion with Prime Minister Balendra Shah.

The manufacturers’ optimism follows Prime Minister Shah’s commitment to revitalize the country’s ready-made garment industry and make a significant contribution to the national economy.

During the meeting held on Tuesday from 11:30 AM with officials from the Nepal Ready-Made Garment Industry Association, Prime Minister Shah expressed the government’s readiness to resolve the industry’s challenges.

Prime Minister Shah voiced concern over Nepal’s ready-made garment sector lagging behind competitors such as Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, India, and Sri Lanka in terms of expected progress.

He inquired about the reasons for the sector’s underperformance and sought suggestions from industry representatives on ways to advance the industry.

The association’s president, Pashupati Dev Pandey, shared after the discussion that Prime Minister Shah emphasized the private sector as the main driving force of the country’s development.

Citing the Prime Minister’s words, Pandey said, “The country’s progress depends on your efforts; we [the government] are merely facilitators. The Prime Minister assured that the government will create an enabling environment for you.”

President Pandey described the meeting as very cordial and familial in atmosphere, adding, “It felt like talking to a family member rather than the Prime Minister.”

During the discussion, the association informed the Prime Minister about urgent matters pending in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies. Immediately following the meeting, Prime Minister Shah instructed the concerned ministry to engage with manufacturers promptly and resolve their issues.

According to Pandey, the Prime Minister demonstrated active commitment to reopening dormant factories, increasing production, promoting import substitution, and boosting exports.

“He called the ministry right away to direct them to reopen inactive garment factories and strengthen efforts to substitute imports through increased production,” Pandey added.

The discussion also covered concerns regarding losses to domestic industries from theft and smuggling across Nepal’s open borders. The Prime Minister showed keen interest in controlling these activities and in restoring the ready-made garment sector as a robust pillar of Nepal’s economy, similar to past achievements.

Further, the meeting examined ways to enhance trade ties with the United States, attract direct foreign investment, and entice large multinational companies to establish production within Nepal, as noted by Pandey.

Prime Minister Shah also solicited suggestions from the private sector on how to attract the ‘Gen Z’ youth demographic into the industry and how to generate employment opportunities.

Currently, Nepal exports ready-made garments worth approximately NPR 1 billion annually. The association believes that with a favorable environment and government policy support, this figure could increase significantly.

President Pandey affirmed the association’s capability to produce garments to meet domestic demand and mentioned plans to engage further with the Ministry of Industry following the Prime Minister’s directive.

The association considers the Prime Minister’s direct engagement and the depth of his interest unprecedented in recent history.

The meeting included association President Pashupati Dev Pandey, First Vice President Basantaraj Adhikari, General Secretary Bhimakumari Giri, Chief Executive Officer Suyash Khanal, and Technical Advisor Prakash Kumar Jha.