Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS) 2015 has been validated on November 23, 2015 by the top trade authorities and stakeholders in the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, Kathmandu.

The NTIS is Nepal's main trade strategy document 2015 and represents a major milestone in Nepal's efforts to integrate trade into the national economy to achieve the overarching national goal of sustainable and inclusive economic growth, poverty reduction and improvement of the living standard of people.

The NTIS 2015 is the third successive trade integration strategy. Nepal validated its first Nepal Trade and Competitiveness Study (NTCS) in 2004, which provided a first comprehensive analysis of Nepal's trade regime and performance and identified products of comparative and competitive advantage. In line with the changing context of international trade regime and the domestic economic scenario, Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS) was adopted in 2010 to provide directional measures for export promotion.

The NTIS 2015 charts out actions and measures of intervention in cross-cutting areas, such as trade capacity building including trade negotiation, trade and transport facilitation, standards and technical regulations, sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures and intellectual property rights.  

The NTIS 2015 also identifies priority export potential sectors including agro-foods (cardamom; ginger; tea; and medicinal plants), crafts and manufacturing (all fabrics; textiles; yarn and rope; leather; footwear; pashmina; and carpets), services (semi-skilled human resources; information technology and business process outsourcing) and tourism.

"I appreciate the efforts of all stakeholders in contributing to the NTIS 2015 and in particular the support of Germany as EIF Donor Facilitator. Mainstreaming trade issues into all relevant Government policies and strategies is imperative for addressing the ballooning trade deficit" said H.E. Mr Ganesh Man Pun, Nepal's Minister of Commerce and Supply.

Speaking in her role as EIF Donor Facilitator in Nepal, Ms Jaqueline Groth from the German Embassy underlined the importance of having a reviewed NTIS in line with the new priorities of both the Government and the private sector and of having services included in the priorities. She also emphasized the need to ensure strong implementation mechanisms and inter-ministerial consultations and assured the assembly of the strong support of all development partners to contribute to the implementation of the NTIS 2015.

"I congratulate the Government of Nepal for having completed the NTIS update through national implementation mechanisms – the third such in the history of the EIF" said Ratnakar Adhikari, Executive Director of the Executive Secretariat for the EIF. "The document is technically sound, methodologically rigorous and action-oriented, which has taken into account not only export performance but also sustainable and inclusive development as the criteria for identifying priority sectors of export importance for the next five years. The latter, among others, includes impact on gender, employment and the environment as the key indicator, thereby setting a new benchmark for other DTISs or DTIS Updates to be prepared in the future, as the EIF moves into its Phase Two".

Mr Naindra Prasad Upadhaya, Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies and the EIF Focal Point, said in his closing remarks, "I am taking away from the Validation Workshop the need to now shift the focus on effective implementation under the leadership of the MOCS and the willingness of partners to provide the MOCS with the necessary means for doing this. My appreciation goes to the Development Partners for effective coordination and consultation and for providing technical and financial support. With the setbacks for trade experienced because of the earthquake, Nepal very much needs and welcomes continued EIF support in Phase Two. All partners in Nepal should support the upcoming EIF Phase Two Pledging Conference in Nairobi. This will ensure sufficient resources for the EIF to continue its much needed support for LDCs like Nepal."