Proceedings of the workshop on exploratory assessment of the export potential of Sudurpashchim Province, Nepal

Over a third of the population in Sudurpaschim Province, Nepal lives below the poverty line, and about three-fourths of the employed population is engaged in agriculture. Collection and trade of non-timber forest products is also an important source of household income. Recognizing the role of trade in poverty alleviation, our Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KSLCDI) partnered with the South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE) and the Ministry of Industry, Trade, Forest and Environment (MoITFE), Sudurpaschim Province, to study the export potential of agriculture and non-timber forest products in the province. On 24 December 2020, we organized a workshop to share and discuss the findings of the study with governmental, private-sector, and research stakeholders; refine the assessment’s recommendations; and discuss a way forward to enhance the trade potential of the province.