Kathmandu, June 5:

The 19th edition of national small and cottage industry exhibition kicked off here today at Bhrikutimandap exhibition hall in a bid to promote products of micro and cottage industries.

The five-day long event aims at providing a platform for micro and small entrepreneurs from across the country and bring them together to explore markets for their products. The event is being organised since 1984.

Altogether 154 stalls of various products representing 65 districts under 13 different categories are on display-cum-sales in the event. The products — include Pashmina, Dhaka clothes, readymade garments, metal crafts, bamboo products, clay and

stone goods, leather goods, wooden craft, forestry products, carpets and woollen goods, handmade paper, food and drink items and others — are mostly produced using local raw materials and technologies.

Organised by the Cottage and Small Industries Development Board (CSIDB) in association with eight different organisations, the organisers plan to honour 13 best entrepreneurs one each in every category. The best entrepreneur will receive Rs 7,000 cash and trophy of 10-tola silver and certificate.

One best women entrepreneur will also receive Rs 7,000 cash prize and a trophy, while 15 entrepreneurs including at least two women will be honoured with consolation prizes of Rs 3,000 cash and certificate.

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry will honour one best entrepreneur with Rs 25,000 cash prize, while Nepal Chamber of Commerce will present Rs 15,000 wo-rth cash prize at the end of event.

Inaugurating the exhibition, Shyam Sundar Gupta, minister for industry, commerce and supplies, said the government would bring a new policy to integrate all categories of industries to promote them accordingly. He also urged for public-private partnership (PPP) for industrial development in the country.

Commerce Secretary Purushottam Ojha highlighted the role of SMEs for industrial development that has been on forefront in generating employment and helping to reduce poverty. He laid stress on the need of quality production and enhancing competitiveness to secure markets nationally and internationally. Ojha pointed out the need to develop a complete package to promote SMEs and develop them as effective tools in fight against poverty.

All participating units have been provided space for free and more women entrepreneurs are being encouraged to take part in the industrial exhibition.