July 8: The major markets of Nepal are reeling under shortage of readymade garments of late. The shortage of goods has been attributed to the decline in import due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The local traders have not been able to go to China for business since April 2020, amidst the pandemic, causing shortage of the readymade garments in the market. 

The traders say that garments required for the summer season such as half pants, t-shirts, trousers, etc are getting out of stock. Rajesh Lama, a garment trader in Bhrikutimandap, said, “Clothing items are insufficient in the market itself. This has caused problem for consumers to find the garments of their choice.”

With the opening of markets, the number of consumers going out has also increased drastically. They are seeking for the essential garments but are compelled to return empty handed because of the shortage of readymade garments.

Ram Chandra Parajuli, treasurer of National Trade Association New Road, who has been importing goods from China since a long time, said that they have been facing problem ever since the Chinese government refused visas for traders to enter China due to the pandemic. According to him, Nepali traders have not been able to go to China to buy goods since more than a year.

In the beginning, even though they could not go to China, the traders were keeping their business running through online orders. However, he said that the traders stopped placing online orders due to the arrival of counterfeit goods instead of the order placed. Parajuli said that the traders were deceived in online trade as they were delivered low-quality goods.

Lately, while ordering goods online, traders have also been facing problems in transactions. Earlier, merchants used to send money via informal channels like hundi for ordering goods online. Now, the Chinese government has made the environment uncompromising, causing difficulty in making monetary transactions.

On one hand, traders have not been able to go to China to buy goods, while on the other hand, the goods that have been ordered are stuck at the border checkpoints.

Even now, food stuffs as well as fruits and other edible items are entering the country through Rasuwagadhi checkpoint in large quantities, while the goods including clothes are arriving in minimum quantities, said Rasuwagadhi Customs Chief Ram Prasad Regmi.

According to him, only five vehicles other than the ones carrying foods and fruits can enter Nepal in a single day. He added, the problems are so severe that on some days, even one vehicle cannot enter the country.