Govt committed to developing ready-made garment industry: PM Shah
KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has said the government is committed to developing the ready-made garment industry.
Speaking after a meeting with office-bearers from Garment Association Nepal (GAN) at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Shah said the government will protect the interests of those engaged in garment manufacturing.
He directed departmental ministers to proceed promptly with the formation of a Textile and Clothing Development Council to support the sector’s growth.
Garment manufacturers expect the council will help promote exports of ready-made garments using domestically available raw materials and improve import management.
In response to demands from industrialists and the business community, Shah instructed the Ministry of Industry to restart ailing industries immediately. He also asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clear the way for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and foreign direct investment (FDI) to promote the garment sector.
The Prime Minister pledged to develop the skilled human resources needed to realise the government’s Farm to Fibre, Fibre to Fabric, Fabric to Fashion and Fashion to Export initiatives. He underlined the need to graduate Nepal from an underdeveloped country to a developing country and said issues faced by garment industries should be addressed to reach that goal.
Shah said work is under way to assess physical infrastructure in schools and that budgets will be allocated to institutions according to need. He emphasised the government’s priority on physical infrastructure, educational facilities and teacher training.
The prime minister said he expects international cooperation on safe infrastructure, digital and smart learning, professional capacity enhancement for teachers, and school health and nutrition programmes.
Those present at the meeting included GAN president Pashupati Dev Pandey, first vice‑president Basanta Raj Adhikari, general secretary Bhim Kumar Giri, chief executive officer Suyash Khanal and technical adviser Prakash Kumar Jha.
By RSS
