KATHMANDU, Dec 14: Minister of State for Industry Kanchan Chandra Bade has said that Nepali youth can earn more than what they are earning in Gulf countries by producing and selling handicraft products. 

Handicraft sector can help in youth self-employment, he said, speaking at a program organized by the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) in Kathamandu.

The program was organized on the occasion of the federation's 44th anniversary and 5th Handicraft Day.

Stating that the Ministry of Industry has kept cottage industry in priority, Bade said that the ministry will always promote the handicraft sector. He also requested FHAN to provide necessary training to people in rural areas to promote youth self-employment by producing different handicraft products.

Minister of State Bade said that the ministry was working to resume operation of defunct industrial units by providing the promoters slew of incentives.

Similarly, Dharma Raj Shakya, president of FHAN, said that the federation was working to find markets for handicraft products produced in rural parts of the country. “We are participating in exhibitions organized in foreign countries for the promotion of Nepali handicraft products in the international market,” Shakya said, requesting the government to solve problems that the sector has been facing.

The government has allocated 3 ropani of land and Rs 50 million to the federation to build the SAARC Handicraft Design Federation building, he added.

At the program, the federation also showcased handicraft products which were declared winners in the recently held handicraft competition. Similarly, it also exhibited traditional handicraft products at the program.

FHAN organized 14th Handicraft Trade Fair in Kathmandu from Nov 25 to 29. Handicraft products like woodcraft, metal craft, gold and silver ornaments, cotton products and leather items, among others, were exhibited at the trade fair. The fair had attracted 200,000 visitors and recorded transactions of around Rs 100 million.

 
• minister of state for industry
 
• kanchan chandra bade
 
• handicraft sector
 
• self-employment