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‘Nepali handmade items will be given priority’
Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada has said that the government would accord priority for the promotion of Nepali handmade products that utilise local resources and generate jobs.Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada has said that the government would accord priority for the promotion of Nepali handmade products that utilise local resources and generate jobs.
Inaugurating the 16th Handicraft Trade Fair and 12th Craft Competition at Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Hall in Kathmandu on Wednesday, Khatiwada said handicraft products have the potential to help reduce the country’s trade deficit if it is promoted in an effective way.
Khatiwada said the government has been making efforts to establish a training centre to produce skilled manpower in the sector.
The five-day fair, organised by the Federation of Handicraft Association of Nepal (FHAN) in association with Trade and Export Promotion Centre, hosts more than 200 stalls from 45 districts displaying various handicraft products, arts and crafts, gift items, pottery and among others.
As per the organiser, 20 stalls have been allotted for sellers from countries like India, China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the Lalitpur Metropolitan, Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce are the partners of the five-day expo.
Lalitpur district was also declared as handicraft city of the country during the event. The government has contributed one-fourth of the Rs10 million cost of the fair.
Nepali handicraft products such as wooden craft, metal crafts, pashmina, silver jewelries, handmade papers, leather shoes, jewelleries, woven natural fibers and bamboo products, among others, are among the major attractions at the fair.
The fair will also promote cultural and traditional attires of different regions of the country. Handicraft products have a huge demand in the national and international market. FHAN exports more than 50 different types of handicraft products to almost 80 countries.
According to FHAN, the handicraft sector has provided employment to around 1.1 million people directly or indirectly. FHAN has been organising the Handicraft Trade Fair since 1991 to promote traditional and contemporary art and crafts and culture of Nepal. As per the organiser, the fair will have an expected transaction of Rs100 million.