Domestic exhibitors said they received many import orders from South Asian countries and domestic handicraft traders. The fair welcomed around 300,000 visitors including ministers, government officials, bureaucrats and corporate executives.

“The increase in footfall and transactions shows that there is growing demand for Nepali handicrafts in the domestic and international markets,” said Dharma Raj Shakya, vice-president of Fhan. According to him, the previous fair had recorded transactions of Rs 80 million and 200,000 visitors.

The handicrafts displayed at the exhibition were very diverse and included products made of pashmina, wool, cotton, wood, stone, paper, ceramics, bamboo and leather, among others.

Addressing the concluding ceremony. State Minister for Commerce and Supplies Giri Bahadur KC said, “Exports have been growing and the quality of the products has been improving over the last two-three years, so we all need to promote the handicraft industry.”  

Similarly, Ishwori Prasad Ghimire, executive director of the Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC), said that these types of expos had been playing a very crucial role in promoting handicrafts in the local and international markets. “As handicrafts are one of the biggest export products, all the stakeholders need to promote them and explore new products that have market potential,” he added.

Ghimire said that the industry had been playing a very important role in poverty alleviation and generating employment. Nepali handicrafts are exported to 85 countries. Fhan said that handicraft exports rose 15 percent to Rs 5.03 billion last year and it projected exports to swell 20 percent to Rs 6 billion this year.

“Despite the massive demand, we have not been able to tap the market due to lack of artisans, so we need to conduct various training classes for craftpersons besides encouraging the young generation to enter the field,” said Ghimire.

Handicrafts like pashmina, carpet, paubha and thanka, bamboo products and wood crafts have high potential in the international market. After receiving a good response for pashmina, the government is planning to provide a trademark to Nepali carpets as well.

Saarc Cultural Centre President GLW Samarasinghe said the fair was one of the best exhibitions among the last three held in India and Bangladesh. “We have been organising Saarc-level handicraft expos every year in the member countries, and this exhibition was one of the best in terms of transferring culture and receiving orders,” he said.

The Nepal Trade Integration Strategy of the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, Ministry of Industry and Saarc Cultural Centre Sri Lanka were the co-organisers of the event. Fhan awarded the winners of the craft competition and the best stall among the 209 exhibitors.