The 16th Handicraft Trade Fair and 12th Craft Competition kicks off today at the Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Hall in Kathmandu, with an objective of promoting exports of Nepali handicrafts.

 

The five-day fair, organised by the Federation of Handicraft Association of Nepal (FHAN) in association with Trade and Export Promotion Centre, will feature more than 200 stalls from 45 districts displaying various handicraft products, arts and crafts, gift items, pottery and among others.

 

The organiser said that 20 stalls have been allotted for sellers from countries like India, China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

 

The fair will be a platform to promote Nepali products in the international market, said Dharma Raj Shakya, president of FHAN.

 

According to him, Nepali products like handicraft, wooden craft, pashmina, handmade papers, leather shoes, jewelleries and bamboo products, among others will be displayed at the expo.

 

The fair will also promote cultural and traditional attires of different regions of the country. Handicraft products have a huge demand in the national and international market. FHAN exports more than 50 different types of handicraft products to almost 80 countries.

 

According to FHAN, the handicraft sector has provided employment to around 1.1 million people directly or indirectly. FHAN has been organising the Handicraft Trade Fair since 1991 to promote traditional and contemporary art and crafts and culture of Nepal.