JETRO conducted a mission in Kathmandu, Nepal, to develop sales channels for Japanese food products. The 4 participating companies visited local wholesalers, retailers and restaurants to survey demand for Japanese food and distribution conditions.
From 9 to 11 October, JETRO visited Nepal as part of the Japanese Food Global Gateway project and assessed conditions in the local market through company visits. A total of 4 companies, including Japanese and Japanese-affiliated companies, participated. Focusing on Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, they visited local import wholesalers, retailers and restaurants to hear about demand for Japanese food and actual distribution conditions.
Interest in Japanese food was high locally, with some saying that visits to Japanese restaurants were increasing among families. Japanese food stores stocked a wide range of confectionery and seasonings, and many Japanese food products imported into Nepal were said to come via Thailand or Malaysia. It was also noted that there was some demand for premium chocolate confectionery.
Among the products introduced at the sites visited, sesame dressing, plum juice and plum paste were well received. The response to plum-related products was particularly positive, suggesting that Japanese plum-flavoured products may have potential for acceptance in Nepal because of their affinity with Nepal's fruit, lapsi.