Lomanthang, Mustang: A state-of-the-art Chyangra fibre de-dusting plant has been inaugurated in Lomanthang, Mustang district, to enhance the quality collection of Chyangra fibre for the production of Chyangra Pashmina.

The plant was inaugurated by the British Ambassador to Nepal, Rob Fenn, along with Lomanthang Rural Municipality Chairperson Tashi Nhurbu Gurung and Vice Chair Chhyumi Bista.

Nepal’s hand-woven and knitted Pashmina, celebrated for its unique quality and cultural significance, is highly coveted in international markets. The Nepal Pashmina Industries Association (NPIA) established the plant with support from the United Kingdom Trade Partnership Programme Nepal (UKTP-Nepal) and the International Trade Centre. This facility will be crucial in ensuring a steady supply of high-quality Chyangra fibre, essential for producing and exporting Nepal's Pashmina.

During the inauguration, Ambassador Fenn expressed his pleasure in supporting the growth of Nepal's Chyangra brand from farm to fashion. “The UK is already involved ‘downstream,’ accompanying Nepali Chyangra entrepreneurs to London Source Fashion Week. Now I have come ‘upstream’—the Kaligandaki, to be precise—to meet farmers in Upper Mustang. I can now tell the story of the whole value chain. And—alongside the inherent quality of ‘cent percent Chyangra’—it’s the extraordinary stories that can be woven around anything ‘Made in Nepal’ that give Nepali exports an edge, especially in UK markets,” he remarked.

Local representative Gurung highlighted the local government's commitment to promoting Chyangra production and fibre harvesting, aiming to create employment opportunities and increase income for locals, particularly the youth and women. He expressed readiness to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to further this goal.

Dhan Prasad Lamichhane, President of the NPIA, noted that Pashmina entrepreneurs are striving to integrate local Chyangra farmers into the Pashmina value chain, ensuring better prices and market access for their products. He emphasized the association’s interest in collaborating with the Nepal government and development partners, including UKTP and the International Trade Centre, to strengthen the Pashmina value chain through robust backward and forward linkages.

NPIA member Santosh Prasad Adhikary also emphasized the significant potential of Nepali Pashmina in the international market and its capacity to boost employment from farm to fashion industry within the country.

The Nepal government has recognized Chyangra Pashmina as one of its high-potential export products. Last year, the government launched the Nepal Pashmina Sector Export National Strategy 2022-2026, aiming to increase Pashmina exports to USD 75 million by 2026. Additionally, the government recently released the Pashmina Export Facilitation Guide, targeting SMEs involved in Pashmina export