The five-day long event, being coorganized by the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) and the Trade and Export Promotion Centre, will have 200 stalls, featuring handicraft items like silver jewelleries, woolen outfits, pashmina wear, Thanka paintings, leather goods and wood craft, among others. [break]
"Apart from local producers, handicraft entrepreneurs from South Asian neighbors like India, Bangladesh and Pakistan are participating in the fair,” said Hari Bahadur Karki, event coordinator.
As handicraft is among the leading employment generating industry and has carved niche market across the globe, the organizers have set this year´s theme as ´Craft Created Locally Marketed Globally´. .
Various associations involved in the handicraft business are supporting the event in order to make it successful and are also setting up respective pavilions to attract more visitors. "Hand Made Paper Association, Lalitpur Handicraft Association, Nepal Pashmina Industry, Leather Footwear and Goods Manufacturers Association and Nepal Wood Craft Association are actively working to make the event successful,” said Karki.
During the event, FHAN would also facilitate business-to-business contacts so that Nepali manufacturers can discuss partnership and business expansion plans with participants from all regional countries.
In order to forge regional tie ups, FHAN has chosen India as the country partner for the 10th expo. "For next year, China is going to be our country partner,” said Karki.
FHAN President Bikash Ratna Dhakhwa said the fair will promote mainly small manufacturers who have not been able to participate in international fairs. He said many manufacturers could not participate in international fairs due to high participation charges.
The federation is also planning to conduct the eighth craft competition during the trade fair.
The organizers expect footfall of around 200,000 visitors. The entrance fee for the fair has been fixed at Rs 50 per person with 50 percent discount offered to students.
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