Promote handicraft’

KATHMANDU: Rajesh Kaji Shrestha, assistant minister for industry commerce and supplies while inaugurating the first annual general meeting of Kathmandu Handicraft Association (KHA) said that handicraft products play a crucial role in boosting export. He said that the entrepreneurs should make a habit of providing handicraft products as gifts to encourage this sector. — HNS

Poverty disparity

KATHMANDU: Keshar Bahadur Bista, minister for agriculture and cooperatives, has said that although Nepal has experienced reduction in poverty by 11 per cent points from 41 per cent in 1996 to 31 per cent in 2004, there remains much to be done to bridge the disparity in between rural and urban communities and among various social groups. He was addressing the 29th meeting of the IFAD Governing Council held in Italian capital of Rome. — RSS