Kathmandu, November 29

The 14th Handicraft Trade Fair concluded in the Capital today with transactions amounting to more than Rs 100 million.

Organised by the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN), the five-day event aimed at promoting the country’s local products in the domestic as well as in the international market. Organisers also informed that more than 200,000 people visited the event this year.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the event, FHAN President Dharma Raj Shakya said that the trade fair this year ended on a much higher note in terms of footfalls and transaction. According to him, the event has also helped raise consciousness among Nepali people to use local products over foreign ones.

“Successful completion of the event has proved that stakeholders are increasingly warming up towards use and promotion of domestic handicraft products,” said Shakya, adding that promotion of handicraft sector would significantly contribute to Nepal’s economy by substituting imports and generating new employment opportunities.

As per FHAN, handicraft products of more than Rs five billion are exported every year while handicraft products worth more than Rs six billion are consumed within the domestic market. Officials said that more than one million people are engaged in the handicraft sector of the country directly and indirectly.

On the occasion, Commerce Secretary Naindra Prasad Upadhyay said the government is positive in terms of promoting handicraft products by introducing different programmes and policies for benefit of people involved in the sector. He also stressed on need to consume domestic products over foreign products to promote the industry.

Ishwori Ghimire, executive director of Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC), said that the centre would support entrepreneurs to organise more numbers of such trade fairs to promote the handicraft industry of the country.

The trade fair this year had 176 stalls showcasing Nepali handicraft products like pashmina, handmade paper, statues, gold and silver jewellery, orthodox tea, and bamboo and wooden products, among others. Similarly, goods with high export potential listed in Nepal Trade Integration Strategy like carpets, footwear products and fabrics were also displayed at the fair.