HMG and Garment Nepal Association's delegation members will be talking about
the current dire situation of the Nepali Garment industry and the campaign
to lobby the US Government to grant duty free and quota free privileges to
Nepalese Garment exports to the US.
Details are as follows:
DATE: Saturday, January 18
TIME: 6-pm
Venue: MIT, Cambridge, MA,
ROOM: 4-237
Background:
Garment sector has been the number one export item from Nepal while the US
has been the number one market. This sector constitutes about 8% of the
manufacturing sector and provides 12% of the total employment in the
industrial sector of the Nepali economy. About 350,000 people depend on it
for their livelihood. About 50% employed are women.
Apparently, the export of Nepalese garments to the United States has
plummeted by an average of 40% a month during the September-December period
of 2001. Since the beginning of 2002, the declining trend continued: January
(-45%), February (-56%), and March (-60%), levels very alarming.
Since the United States is the prime market, the survival of Nepalese
garment industry will depend upon its position in the American market.
However, Nepal's competitiveness will depend on US' preferences towards
Nepali garments. For that reason Nepalese garments need the US duty-free
facility.
Our cooperation and effort at this trying period in Nepali history make a
tremendous difference. Together we can raise our voice to lobby the US
government to grant preferential treatment (duty-free) to Nepali garment
products and in turn help the ailing Nepali economy.
Please join us for an interesting informative session with the
representatives. If you need future information or have
questions/comments/suggestions, please contact:
Pralhad KC
211 Newbury Street
Boston, MA. 02116
(617) 536-5614 Tel.
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