Addressing the inaugural ceremony of 26th National Industrial Goods and Technological Exhibition in the capital on Wednesday, Oli said that consumers should give priority to domestic products and help strengthen the national economy.
The six-day event is being organized by Cottage and Small Industries Development Board (CSIDB).
“Preference of domestic products over foreign goods makes will not only strengthen our economy but also expands market for domestic products. In turn it will help to reduce trade deficit,” Oli said, urging industrialists to go for mass production so that domestic products are price competitive. “But if our products are of low quality, people will switch to foreign products.”
Oli also expressed commitment to support industries in promotion of local goods, creation of demand, and procurement of raw materials, among others.
On the occasion, Nilam Tamrakar, acting executive director of CSIDB, said that the annual event aims to bring together all locally manufactured products at a place and inform consumers about these products. “Our effort has always been on encouraging people to use Nepali goods and let them know that Nepali goods are competitive in quality and price compared to foreign products,” Tamrakar added.
He also urged the government to establish a large sales counter in Kathmandu Valley. “Such sale counter will collect products manufactured all over the country and sell them in the Valley,” he said, adding that such counter can play a big role in promotion of local products among consumers in the Valley,” she added.
Similarly, Rajesh Kaji Shrestha, president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), said that Nepali industries are also capable of producing goods in large scale if they get needful support from the government.
Being organized with the slogan ‘Made in Nepal, Use Domestic Products, Feel Proud’, the event has a total of 325 stalls. Participating industries are showcasing handicraft products, woolen products, leather and footwear products, handmade papers, herbal products, wooden products, and food products like organic tea and coffee at the expo. The organizers are expecting around 700,000 visitors and transactions of around Rs 80 million.
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