Kathmandu, November 20

The 14th Handicraft Trade Fair and the 12th Craft Competition is set to commence in the Capital from Friday.

The five-day event is being organised by the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) at the Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Hall with an aim to promote Nepali handicraft products. Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC) is co-organiser of event.

At a press meet in the Capital today, Dharma Raj Shakya, president of FHAN, informed that all preparations for the event have been completed. “Handicraft products have a major stake in Nepal’s economy and they are also one of the major exportable products of the country,” said Shakya, adding that the event will focus on ways to expand the market for handicraft products within the country as well as in foreign markets.

According to Shakya, Nepal exports handicraft products worth more than Rs 10 billion every year in countries like the United States of America, Germany, France, Netherlands, Japan, China and India, among others.

He added that Rs 10 billion worth of handicraft products are consumed annually in the domestic market as well.

“If the handicraft sector gets the recognition of an industry, it has the potential to generate employment opportunities in a large scale and contribute to the national economy by substituting imports,” added Shakya.

The Handicraft Trade Fair this year has seven pavilions and 176 stalls showcasing Nepali handicraft products and services and all of them have already been booked, according to organisers. The event will display woodcraft, metal craft, gold and silver jewellery, woollen products, pashmina, handmade paper, leather products, bamboo products, orthodox tea and herbs, among others.

Similarly, FHAN will also promote the five products and three services of high export potential that have been listed in Nepal Trade Integration Strategy 2016 like carpets, leather products, footwear and all types of fabrics (textiles and yarns).

Similarly, FHAN is also organising the 12th Craft Competition during the event. It will award first, second and third winners of the competition with Rs 50,000, Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000, respectively.

Speaking at the event, Ishwori Prasad Ghimire, executive director of TEPC, said government and private sector should work together to increase export competitiveness of handicraft products.