PM Shah Directs Removal of Plywood Export Obstacles

Nepal’s Prime Minister Balen Shah has directed the removal of obstacles hindering plywood exports. This came after a meeting between the Prime Minister and the export committee of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Singh Durbar on Friday.

According to Hom Prasad Dahal, chairman of the export committee, the Prime Minister gave instructions to immediately resolve the policy and technical issues affecting plywood exports. Dahal said that plywood entrepreneurs presented the sector as a major part of Nepal’s export trade and highlighted the challenges they face.

Entrepreneurs drew attention to issues such as the supply of raw materials, the need to establish equivalence between Indian and Nepali quality standards, and other policy-related problems. ‘We discussed various issues with the Prime Minister, including the current state of the plywood industry, investment, potential, and problems,’ Dahal said.

The Prime Minister listened patiently to the entrepreneurs’ concerns, asked questions, and discussed possible solutions. The entrepreneurs highlighted issues such as raw materials, equivalence between Indian and Nepali standards, and other policy-related problems.

Specifically, the entrepreneurs pointed out that the lack of phytosanitary and fumigation certificates required for the export of plywood, doors, and wood products had stalled the export process. The Prime Minister directed the concerned authorities to prepare necessary procedures for the export of wood products and other hardwood products to make the government’s previous plan to export wood successful.

‘The Prime Minister instructed the concerned authorities to resolve the issues that can be solved immediately. In particular, he directed the preparation of necessary procedures for the export of plywood doors and wood products, which have been stalled due to the lack of quarantine procedures,’ Dahal said.

Similarly, the government has expressed its commitment to formulate necessary policies and simplify procedures to increase the export of processed goods and end the practice of exporting only raw materials. The meeting also discussed the issue of large quantities of raw materials being exported despite the potential for domestic production.

In this regard, the government has assured that it will take concrete steps after necessary consultations, Dahal said.