Kathmandu, March 15

The sixth edition of Nepal International Trade Fair 2017 is set to commence in the Capital on Thursday.

The five-day event, aimed at promoting domestic products, is being organised by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal will inaugurate the event.

Organising a press conference today, FNCCI informed that preparations have been completed to hold the trade fair in a bigger and more successful manner than in the past.

“The event basically aims at promoting industrial goods of the country in both the domestic and international markets. Similarly, the trade fair is also intended to give momentum to economic activities in the market despite the ongoing unrest,” said Keshav Pandey, chairman of Trade Fair Committee of FNCCI.

According to him, such events are an important platform for domestic products to brand themselves and seek new markets.

Meanwhile, organisers have said that traders of different countries like India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Thailand, among others, are also participating in the event. “This provides a win-win situation for traders of Nepal and other nations to promote their products,” Pandey said.

FNCCI has said that the trade fair will showcase local and foreign products through 325 stalls. Of the total stalls, Chinese traders are promoting Chinese goods and services in 80 stalls, India in 10 stalls, Pakistan in 20 stalls, Bangladesh in 65 stalls and traders of Thailand in two stalls. “The event is also an important platform for traders to ink business-to-business (B2B) deals,” added Pandey.

Nepali traders are showcasing handicraft products, pashmina, agro and herbal products, wood and paper craft, and jewellery, among others, in the event, according to FNCCI.

Dinesh Shrestha, vice president of FNCCI, said that the country’s economy cannot boom unless domestic products are promoted effectively.

“FNCCI is holding this event every year to boost local products. However, Nepal does not even have a well-equipped hall to organise international events like these,” he said, adding that availability of good exhibition hall is a must to hold such events in an organised manner.

FNCCI has a target to attract almost 500,000 visitors in the event. Similarly, it has said that transaction of goods worth over Rs 200 million is expected during the event.