The Footwear Manufacturers Association of Nepal (FMAN) has urged the government to promote the domestic footwear industry, replace imports, create employment and promote exports, and control smuggling. In a discussion held between Prime Minister Balendra Shah and the association's officials at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Friday, the Prime Minister pledged to conduct skill-based training related to footwear manufacturing in coordination with all three levels of government, and to encourage the private sector to promote branding, marketing, and market promotion of Nepali footwear. The discussion was attended by MP Bidushi Rana, association president Suraj Banjade, outgoing president Rudra Neupane, general secretary Nirmal Bhattarai, and former vice president. In the discussion coordinated by Rana, representatives of the federation urged to control footwear smuggling, promote domestic industry, and strengthen the monitoring system.

A suggestion was also made to the Prime Minister to adopt a policy of using Nepali-made footwear and slippers in government employees, Nepal Police and other government agencies to increase the use of domestic products. ‘After the Prime Minister listened to the demands of the industrialists, the discussions have been taken forward by calling the Inspector General of Nepal Police, Director General of the Customs Department, Chief of the Revenue Department and the Commerce Department,’ said MP Rana. 

She said that there was an agreement to issue a notice within the next 15 days, take strict action against those involved in smuggling and make market monitoring effective. She said that the domestic industry is currently the most affected by smuggling. 

The association has drawn attention to controlling illegal smuggling and import of substandard and cheap footwear and slippers from various Indian border points and to conducting mandatory quality tests. The Federation emphasizes the need for diplomatic initiatives to facilitate the problems seen in import-export and the lack of skilled manpower in its quality, the problems seen in the import of raw materials and leather goods, and the quality standards of BIS. 

Since only 12 to 14 limited containers of raw materials required for the festival are released from the border, the association demands that diplomatic initiatives be taken to release containers as per the demand during the season. 

Association President Banjade said that due to the lack of necessary manpower, the footwear industry, which creates the most jobs after the agriculture sector, has to depend on foreign workers. He said that they have urged the Prime Minister to take the necessary initiative to produce skilled manpower in the country and create employment by arranging skill-based training in all seven provinces. 

President Banjade said that Prime Minister Shah has positively addressed the demands and that he is confident that the demands of entrepreneurs will be managed in the coming days. He said that Nepal's footwear industry is providing employment to 50,000 people. He said that 4.7 million pairs of shoes were exported in the last fiscal year and 6 million pairs have been exported in 11 months.