Overall readymade garment exports from Nepal to the US was $5.42 million in March 2006, a decline of 13 percent as compared to same period last year, informs Garment Association of Nepal (GAN).
Exports of first three months (first quarter - Q1) this year reported a gain of 5 percent compared to same period in 2005.
Garment exports for the period in consideration to the US amounted to $17.56 million as against $16.77 million, last year.
According to garment entrepreneurs, commodity business is major revenue earner and it has not performed as expected.
Nepali garment exports began its downtrend since 2002 when the US provided duty and quota free market access to Caribbean and Sub-Saharan countries.
End of quota regime since January 1, 2005 was another set back came for country's garment export.
GAN is optimistic about export growth as production cost in neighbouring India is rising and the US and the European Union have imposed restrictions on Chinese textiles and apparel imports.
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