Nepali shoes replacing foreign brand shoes

The Nepali footwear industry is an amalgamation of various styles, designs and price points. From the sturdy sports shoes, the comfortable sandals/ slippers to the elegant leather, it truly is an industry that caters to all tastes. Shoes with outer soles made of rubber or plastic have high-volume production and high export but are priced at lower rates.

Leather sole shoes have medium- volume production but comparatively low exports. The sports footwear has high-volume production and a medium export rate and price while the leather ones have low-volume production and export.
The industry is said to have flourished after the privatisation of the Bansbari Shoes Factory in 1992.

he footwear manufacturing business is a lucrative one and has expanded to around 1500 companies employing 60,000 people in Nepal.

Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Butwal are the main hubs where they are made. Nepal manufactures 30 million pairs annually and more than 90% is exported to meet the demand of consumers in India.

Besides India, Nepali footwear have been exported to countries such as Japan, Thailand, China, UK, USA, Belarus, Bhutan, Israel, Brazil, Kenya, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Australia, Portugal, and Spain. Besides, the growing demand for shoes in both domestic and international markets and the competitive price of Nepali footwear have opened the door for further expansion of footwear industry in Nepal. It is clear that if the production quality and volume are raised, the footwear industry has high export potential.