Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: A high-level delegation of Nepalese exporters has left for Oman on Monday to promote Nepali products in the market.

At the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Nepal in Oman, the visit is aimed at marketing Nepali goods, expanding trade and promoting business to business partnership between Nepal and Oman.

The delegation comprises FNCCI President Govinda Prasad Ghimire, Handicraft Federation of Nepal President Rabindra Shakya, FNCCI Vice President and Nepal Handmade Paper Association President Kiran Kumar Dangol, FNCCI President Bikram Chemjong, FNCCI advisor Swayambhu Ratna Tuladhar, Nepal Dairy Association vice-president Manoj Kumar Yadav and 15 export-oriented entrepreneurs and commodity entrepreneurs ।

The delegation will hold a business interaction and networking programme at the Embassy of Nepal in Oman, hold bilateral trade cooperation agreement with Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and discuss investment issues with Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a meeting with Oman Investment Authority on investment possibilities and business cooperation.

According to First Secretary at the Embassy of Nepal in Oman, Vishesh Kumar Shah, there will be a direct B2B meeting with the Procurement Department of Nesto Hypermarket, Lulu Hypermarket and Hypermax of Oman.

President of FNCCI Govinda Prasad Ghimire said that the visit would be an important beginning in a direction to expand Nepali products to Oman’s market. According to him, Oman is an important trade hub in the Gulf region and there is good potential for the market expansion of Nepali agricultural products, handmade paper, processed food items, dairy products, natural drinking water and other value-added Nepali products.

Although it has been a long time since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Oman, bilateral trade is still relatively low. Nepal mainly exports carpet, pashmina, handicraft, tea, coffee, spices, handmade paper and some agricultural products to Oman. Although the balance of trade is not in Nepal’s favor, efforts have been intensified in recent years to promote Nepali products in the Gulf market. There is the possibility of increasing access of Nepali products to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait as well in the Gulf countries through Oman.