Nepal’s declining export performance reflects challenges that extend beyond geography or market access. Despite possessing niche products with strong international potential, the country continues to struggle with weak competitiveness, fragmented supply chains, coordination failures, and an enduring dependence on imports. The erosion of once-successful export industries, combined with inadequate implementation of trade strategies and limited investment in innovation, has raised important questions about how Nepal approaches trade, production, and economic development.
Mr. Rajan Sharma examines the structural and institutional barriers constraining Nepal’s trade sector. He argues that sustainable export growth requires stronger coordination among stakeholders, better infrastructure management, credible certification systems, and a shift away from short-term opportunism toward long-term investment in quality, branding, research, and market development.
The text is an abridged and translated version of the August 2025 edition of Sambaad @ Samriddhi. Sambaad @ Samriddhi is a monthly discussion on contemporary issues held on the third Friday of each month. In this edition, Rajan Sharma, Trade Expert, shares his insights on why the Nepal’s trade sector is so import dependent and how our own exporters’ actions have led to today’s concerning export scenario.. The discussion was moderated by Akash Shrestha.
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