Handicraft producers urge govt for export incentives

11 Jan '11

2 min read

Handicraft is a key export item of Nepal. The handicraft producers have urged the government to extend incentives to help them raise their exports. Bikas Ratna Dhakhwa, President of the Federation of Handicrafts Association of Nepal (FHAN) recently while speaking at the 30th annual general meeting of the Association said that, the government needs to pay more attention to the industry.

He stated that the sector needs more similar kind of incentives like those provided under the recent budget, and even stressed on the urgent need to set up the proposed handicraft village.

He further stated that, FHAN has started a testing service whereby it grants a toxin-free certification to the products. FHAN joined hands with the Trade and Export Promotion Centre (TEPC) and Department of Standard and Metrology to start this service.

In order to promote Nepali handicraft works in the foreign countries it is necessary to organise international trade events and training workshops at regular intervals, he suggested.

With a view that the handicraft items prepared by the artisans from remote areas also earn a market access, FHAN intends to set up a handicraft emporium in Thamel. Moreover, FHAN has also set up an Export Cell in alliance with the Export Council of Nepal to ease the handicraft exports.

The initial three months of the current financial year, saw the country's handicraft exports registering a rise of 8.91 percent to reach Rs 904 million over the corresponding period last year.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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