KATHMANDU: Footwear Industrial Exhibition kicks off for the first time at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu from Thursday.

The Expo is organised by Nepal Footwear Operators Association. Chairman of the Association, Khumraja Dhungana said, "Although different footwear associations have organised such expos before, this is first of its kind.

During the inauguration programme, President of National Entrepreneurs Federation of Nepal, Naresh Katuwal, stated that for a country to prosper and develop, small-scale entrepreneurs should be respected.

He further said, "The country should invest in small scale businesses to generate employment for the youth at a time when hundreds of them are going abroad for employment on a daily basis."

The state should give concession on imported raw materials and give high priority to domestic products, said the first Vice-President of the Federation, Nayan Bahadur Pandit.

According to the Federation, out of the total population of the country, 35 per cent people are now using footwear manufactured in the country.