The export of handicraft products surged by 6 percent in the last fiscal year, compared to the previous year. A significant increase in the export of pashmina products, metal crafts, glass and leather products have helped in increasing the export earnings from the sector, said the Federation of Handicrafts Associations of Nepal (FHAN).The FHAN’s statistics show that Nepal exported handicrafts items worth Rs 4.36 billion in 2012-13, compared to Rs 4.11 billion in 2011-12. The export of handmade textile products increased by four percent to Rs 2 billion, while the export of non-textile handicrafts products increased by eight percent. Hem Ratna Shakya, President, FHAN attributed the publicity of handicrafts products to trade fair for the increase. The branding of ‘Chyangra’ Pashmina, a collective trademark, and the rising price of the US dollar helped improve export earning from the sector. “Encouraged by the good impact of Chyangra Pashmina, that has helped maintain the quality standard, we have planned on issuing similar trademarks for the entire handicrafts products of the country,” he added.

Shakya attributed the export growth to the increasing demand for metal crafts from China. “Increasing participation of the local traders in the China-based trade fair has also helped the publicity of the product in recent days.”With importing handicrafts worth Rs 1.27 billion, the US became the largest importing nation in the segment. Nepal exported handmade products worth Rs 1.20 billion in 2011-12 in the US. Germany and Japan were the second and the third largest buyers of the Nepali goods.

http://nepalhandicraft.org.np/

Cambodian garment workers stitching clothes that supply to UK high street are malnourished to the point of collapse.A recent study reveals a third of Cambodian garment workers producing clothes sold in the UK by global brands, including clothing giant H&M, are not getting enough food. Some 25 per cent are so underweight they would be classified as anorexic were they diagnosed in the UK.The findings of the report by worker rights group LabourBehind the Label follow a spate of mass fainting over recent years, when groups of up to 300 at a time have passed out.Researchers attributed the incidents to the serious malnourishment of the industry’s 400,000-plus mostly female employees who work for a monthly minimum wage of around $80 (£50) – too little to fund an adequate diet, the researchers say.

According to the report, Shop ‘Til They Drop, employees consumed around half the calories needed for garment factory work, while protein intake fell well below half the basic human need. The recommended 3,000-calorie diet alone would cost some $75 a month, leaving just $5 for all other costs.Although some factories offer allowances for food, these are often spent on other essential expenses, which for many include sending a share home to family members, the report states.

Apparel and textile manufacturing is set to restart at North Korea’s Gaeseong Industrial Complex (GIC), also called Kaesong Industrial Park. Located just north of the South Korean border, the process of starting GIC will begin nearly five months after work was halted as tensions escalated between the two Koreas following a nuclear test done by North Korea in February this year.

The second meeting of the South-North Joint Committee for GIC, held recently decided that the GIC companies will begin testing machines, and resume operations thereafter, according to a press release by the South Korean Ministry of Unification.

Through the meeting, both the countries established a systematic framework, which will help the GIC become a stable industrial complex that has international competitive power. The GIC has 123 South Korean factories that together employ over 5,000 North Koreans. About 60 percent of these factories are engaged in manufacturing of fabric and apparel.

In order to compensate for the GIC companies’ financial losses, South and North Korea agreed to give the tax exemption benefit for the year 2013. The deadline for tax payment by the GIC companies for the year 2012 is now extended to the end of 2013.

Launched in 2003, GIC is largely financed by South Korea. In 2012, the complex produced $470 million worth of products, and was the biggest contributor to inter-Korean trade. The industrial zone is the last functioning inter-Korean joint project and is a major source of revenue for North Korea.

China has a plan to invest in cotton ginneries in Tanzania. The investment plan includes construction of cotton processing factories in the Shinyanga region with the view to adding value to improve farmers’ earnings and creating an estimated 30,000 new jobs.Seven cotton factories will be built that will include cotton processingfactories, textile factories, and factories for packaging materials. Chinese investors would also help increase productivity in the region by introducing new technology as well as seeds from China. 

Currently farmers in the region are producing 400 kg of cotton

per hectare, whereas in China farmers produce four tons of cotton by
cultivating on the same size of land. Chinese industries require new markets for their products and Africa is a potentially enormous outlet. Chinese clothing, jewelry, electronics, even matches, tea bags have flooded cities, towns and villages in Africa. African consumers like Chinese products because they are affordable. China on its part sees Africa as a strong source of raw material supplies.