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Demand for Dhaka products go up at home and abroad
The confidence of Dhankuta-based entrepreneurs involved in the production of garments made from dhaka has been going up these days, as demand for their products is continuously increasing in the international market.Meshchandra Adhikari
The confidence of Dhankuta-based entrepreneurs involved in the production of garments made from dhaka has been going up these days, as demand for their products is continuously increasing in the international market.
Rajganga Dhaka Factory, located at Maunabudhuk, is one such manufacturer which has seen an uptick in demand for dhaka products abroad. Its director Rajkumari Limbu says his factory exported dhaka garments worth Rs600,000 in the last six months.
The biggest export market for Rajganga, which has been producing dhaka products for the last two decades, is the UK. But the factory also exports dhaka goods to South Korea, Germany, the US and Hong Kong.
“Demand for garments, such as daura suruwal, the national dress of Nepal, saris and kurtas, is relatively high abroad,” said Limbu. “Lately, we have also been exporting caps and shawls made of dhaka.” Demand for these goods increases during festivals such as Dashain, Tihar, Ubhauli and Udhauli, according to Limbu.
As consumption of dhaka products is growing abroad, Rajganga has started hiring more people, with the size of his workforce expanding to 265.
To cater to the growing demand for dhaka products abroad, Rajganga has also started outsourcing production works. And to maintain the quality of goods produced by outsiders, it has also started offering training. Most of those who receive the training are women.
Like Rajganga, Khada Dhaka Textile Factory and Gurans Dhaka Textile Factory have also seen a rise in demand for dhaka products abroad.
“The item that is most in demand is surke thaili, [a traditional purse that is carried by women],” said Beni Kumari Khada, the promoter of Khada Dhaka Textile Factory, adding, “Most of the surke thaili that we produce are exported to the US.”
As demand for dhaka products is growing in the international market, Nepalis settled abroad have started opening showrooms abraod. Padam Lawati and Suman Lawati, for instance, have opened a showroom in Hong Kong, while Basundhara Rai has established an outlet in London. Dhankuta, a district located in the east, is home to around three dozen small and cottage enterprises that are engaged in production of Dhaka textile and garments.