KATHMANDU, September 7: Nepal needs to focus on newly-designed handicraft items from its conventional type to benefit the country largely from the export of the handmade products, say stakeholders.  

Speaking at a program organized jointly by the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) and Interior Designers’ Association of Nepal (IDEA Nepal), the stakeholders underscored the need to take the Nepali products into trending designs. “Along with the introduction of the new products, there is a need to make aggressive marketing in the international market to boost export,” said Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yadav Prasad Koirala.

According to the data maintained by the Trade and Export Promotion Center, Nepal exported handicrafts worth more than Rs 8 billion in the last fiscal year despite the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Although the Nepali handicrafts are of high quality, the products have been losing their market abroad due to traditional designs compared to similar other foreign goods,” Koirala said.

At the program, FHAN honored Rabina Shrestha with Interior Designing Handicrafts Award for her outstanding work in the designing of handmade products. Roshan Thakur stood first runner up, while Nilima Pradhan secured the third position in the competition. 

 
• handicrafts
 
• design
 
• export