Handicraft Trade Fair to start from Nov 25

Kathmandu, November 21, 2016: The 14th Handicraft Trade Fair organised by the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (Fhan) is scheduled to start at Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Hall on November 25.

The five-day expo will showcase a wide range of handicraft goods produced in different parts of the country in a bid to promote Nepali handmade items.

Speaking at a programme on Sunday, Fhan Vice-President and coordinator of the trade fair Hom Nath Upadhyay said that the event would help to provide market access to domestic handicraft producers.

According to him, more than 20 potential buyers from China, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Bhutan and Sri Lanka will be visiting the fair. “Fhan will provide free accommodation to 25 potential importers of Nepali handmade products.”

B2B meetings will be another attraction at the event. They will provide traders a platform to receive information about new products, designs and potential markets. The trade fair is estimated to attract 200,000 people and see transactions worth Rs100 million.

Toya Narayan Gyawali, joint secretary at the Commerce Ministry, said the trade fair was part of a public-private partnership programme to promote Nepali products in the international market.

“The government also seeks to promote nine priority products listed in Nepal Trade Integration Strategy 2016 through the expo,” he said.

According to Gyawali, the government has lent support to the fair with the objective of providing greater market access to domestic handicraft producers and paving the way for transfer of skills and technology.

Fhan President Dharma Raj Shakya said the benefits realised from the trade fair would trickle down to the grassroots level.

As per the organiser, the 12th Craft Competition will be held on the sidelines of the event in which artisans, craft entrepreneurs and people engaged in craft making will take part.

The theme of this year’s fair is ‘Prospects for Prosperity’. Different products will be displayed at seven pavilions and 176 stalls, the organiser said. The event is being held in association with the Commerce Ministry and the Trade and Export Promotion Center.