The 13th Handicraft Trade Fair and 11th Craft Competition will be held concurrently from May 5 for four days.

There will be 177 stalls showcasing more than 50 domestic products at Bhrikuti Mandap Exhibition Hall, said the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (Fhan), the organizer.

Fhan said the event’s objective was to promote products made of pashmina, wool, felt, silk, cotton, hemp, alloys, Dhaka, glass, bone and horn, crystal and leather. Likewise, textiles, silver jewellery, metal craft, handmade paper, wood craft, ceramics, incense, paintings, beads, stone craft, bamboo products, gold ornaments, gems and herbal products will also be displayed at the fair.

“Handicraft products are crucial to our economy as they create employment and are a major source of foreign revenue,” said Dharma Raj Thapa, chairman of Fhan. “The fair has been organised in line with our aim to promote handmade products and foster business relationships with international companies.”

According to official data, handicraft exports amount to Rs10 billion annually. Nepali craft products are exported to 80 countries including the US, France, Germany and Japan. Around 1.10 million Nepalis are involved in the handicraft business.

“All the stalls have been booked. More than 50 prominent handicraft traders from Asia Pacific are expected to attend the exhibition,” said Kiran Kumar Dangol, co-ordinator of the event. “This year, we will also be organising a competition among six pavilions, and the best one will be awarded a cash prize of Rs100,000.”

The theme for this year’s exhibition is ‘Prospects for Prosperity’. It reflects the objective to make the exhibition a business hub for handicraft products in the Asian region, the organiser said.

Meanwhile, Fhan has partnered with the Tourist Guide Association of Nepal (Turgan) in a bid to attract foreign tourists. Turgan will include a visit to the trade fair in the sightseeing itinerary of the tourists arriving in Nepal during the period.

Around 300,000 people are expected to attend the event and conduct transactions worth Rs100 million.

Meanwhile, the Craft Competition which will run concurrently with the Handicraft Trade Fair will provide a platform for talented craftsmen and enhance awareness. Outstanding artisans will be awarded, the organiser said. The artisans will also conduct live demonstrations.

“The event will motivate Nepali craftsmen and save the traditional crafts of Nepal. The three best craftsmen will be given cash prizes of Rs50,000, Rs30,000 and Rs20,000 respectively along with certificates,” said Prachanda Shakya, coordinator of the competition.

The Craft Competition is being organised with support from Everest De Cargo, Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City.

“The handicraft business suffered a loss of 15 percent following the earthquake and trade embargo. This event is expected to bring the business back on

track and help the country prosper. Considering the losses suffered by the industry, we request the government to hike the export subsidy from the current 2 percent to 10 percent,” said Fhan Chairman Thapa.