Kathmandu, October 18, 2006

Paca Tomas, a Spanish woman in her forties, is elated, for her dream of adopting a Nepali child has turned into reality after three-and-a-half years.

“It was like being on top of Everest. Everybody knows it is difficult, but you can imagine the pleasure of being there only when you are finally there,” she said today, relating her feeling after she got the approval from the government to adopt the girl-child.

It was almost four years ago when Tomas, an official at the International Oxfam, dreamt of adopting a child. “Now that Subhechha has come to my life, my professional life is a second priority,” says the unmarried professional from Barcelona.

Tomas first filed an application at the Ministry of Welfare Family and Adoption in Spain and followed an eight-month hectic process of giving interviews to the ministry officials, child psychologists, social assistants and padagogists.

“It is a long story. They used to come to my home any time and asked any questions they had in their mind. They sought my permanent work contract, bank accounts, health certificate and what not.

But I was not tired. Then I felt how strongly I wanted to adopt a child,” she said. After getting an approval from the Spanish government, she decided to adopt a Nepali girl.

EU project to promote Nepali handicrafts

The European Union (EU) has launched a project named ‘Fair Trade in Nepal’ with a view to strengthen business links between Europe and Nepal, as well as to promote Nepali handicrafts in western markets.

Hridayesh Tripathi, minister for industry, commerce and supplies today officially unveiled the project under EU’s Asia Invest Programme-II jointly implemented by Formaper Agency of Milan Chamber of Commerce, Italy in partnership with the Consorzio Cooperazine Terzo Mondo, Italy, Fair Trade Original, Holland and Fair Trade Group Nepal (FTGN).

EU has provided a grant assistance of Euro 254,543 for the project, which is for a two year period.

The project is aimed at capacity building and support networking endeavours of FTGN with various European business organisations as well as to enable Nepali handicrafts sector to become more competitive for exports.

Tripathi said that the project would be helpful to promote Nepali exports, particularly at a time when major export commodities are experiencing a steep decline.

“The volatility in export due to changing scenario in trade at the regional and global level has put the Nepali economy in a precarious situation,” he said.

Nepal is seeking special and differential treatment under various trading arrangements to protect Nepali exports from further marginalisation.