Technical Report: Mission to Nepal, TF/NEP/04/001/11-52, July 2004

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report contains a summary of the tasks completed in the field, during the period 19 June to 07 July 2004. The European Union (EU) has allocated 2 million Euro to assist Nepal to upgrade its standardisation, metrology, testing and quality (SMTQ) facilities to meet the requirements of WTO accession, in particular the requirements of TBT and SPS agreements. The mission was undertaken to gather data for the formulation of a project in this area to be implemented by UNIDO.

Nepal is predominantly an agricultural country with more than 81 % of the population engaged in agriculture. The contribution of agriculture sector to the GDP is about 42 %. The GDP in 2002/3 at current prices was 446 billion Nepal Rupees (6070 million USD). The growth rate of GDP is estimated to be 5.9 %.

Exports are dominated by garments (52 %), woolen carpets (23 %), woolen & pashmina goods (18 %) and hides (1 %). Products which have revealed very strong export performance over the 1997-2003 period are shawls, scarves, mufflers and mantillas, medicament mixtures, butter, fats and oils derived from milk. Various textiles and clothing products have also shown very positive growth rates.

Nepal's main imports are textiles (17%), chemicals (13%) and fresh food (8%). In terms of merchandise imports the main products are petroleum and oils, special transaction trade, and gold unwrought. Import growth in these products over the1997-2003 period has been low (even negative in the case of gold). Very strong import growth has however been revealed in structures of iron and steel, agricultural, horticultural, and forest machinery, and rape or colza seeds.

However the following project outputs and activites (proposals) have been recorded during the period 19 June to 07 July 2004 in order to comply with the global market:

Output 1

Upgraded metrology laboratories (mass, temperature and pressure) of the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM).

Activities: Selection and fielding of expert, Identification of metrology equipment for the mass, temperature pressure laboratories, Writing of specifications for the metrology equipment, Submission of specifications to UNIDO for ordering, Ordering of metrology equipment, Receipt, installation and commissioning of equipment, Training of staff.

Output 2

TBT enquiry point established at the NBSM.

Activities: Identification and ordering of office equipment, Selection and fielding of TBT expert, Identification of standards and regulations of Nepal export and import products relevant to TBT agreement, Collection of relevant standards and regulations of Nepal's export and import partners, Review of various laws and regulations related to TBT; Setting up of network with TBT enquiry points of other countries, Training of staff on TBT agreement and procedures.

Output 3

Establishment of system certification body and launch of system certification schemes (ISO 9000, ISO 14000, SA 8000 and HACCP).

Activities: Identification and setting up of the organisational structure of the certification body (FNCCI/NBSM), Selection and fielding of systems certification expert, Preparation of system certification documentation (Quality Manual, Procedures etc.,), Identification of candidates suitable for lead auditors, Selection of lead auditor trainers, Conduct an IRCA registered ISO9001 course for lead auditors, Conduct an IRCA registered ISO 14001 course for lead auditors, Conduct a training program on consulting skills related to setting up ISO 9001 QMS and ISO 14001 EMS systems in enterprises, Obtain accreditation for ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and HACCP certification.

Output 4

Strengthened documentation and information section of NBSM.

Activities: Identification and ordering of national and international standards, Setting up of network with documentation centres of ISO member bodies, Training of staff on documentation and information services, Identification and ordering of office equipment.

Output 5

Enhanced 'Rugmark' signifying certified quality of carpets and rugs and child free labour usage in the manufacture.

Activities: Consultations with "Rugmark International" organisation, Consultations with "Rugmark' national organisations in Nepal, India and Pakistan, Proposal for formulation of an international standard for hand woven woolen carpets and rugs, Establishment of third party quality certification scheme in producing countries including test facilities, Launch of the enhanced Rugmark, Promotion of enhanced Rugmark.

  For more detailed information please contact: Mr. Ouseph Padickakudi, PTC/IPT, UNIDO
E-mail: O.Padickakudi@unido.org

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