Who would've thought that Nepali produce would some day find their way onto supermarket shelves in the Middle East? Come Friday, a first-ever one tonne cargo of green vegetables grown in Kathmandu will be at Doha on a Qatar Airways flight.

Cauliflowers, green chilli, spinach, potatoes, ladies fingers and beans are part of the first consignment. It marks the first export of vegetables to a third country, thanks to the Salt Trading Corporation (STC) which played a key role in the deal. "We will export vegetables to the Middle East on a regular basis," says STC's Parmeswor Mahaseth at STC. The corporation took the initiative after a market study revealed the Gulf could be a promising market for our vegetables and fruits. STC is opening a branch office in Dubai to facilitate regular exports to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Kuwait and Iraq among others. STC's biggest challenge will be delivering farm fresh vegetables to clients. Farmers in Bhaktapur are excited about the new venture. "Looks like our good days are back," said Roshan Prajapati of Bhaktapur. "Perhaps we will no longer have to wake up at dawn and rush to Kathmandu to sell our vegetables."