17th Int’l Footwear Industrial Fair being held in Kathmandu

KATHMANDU: The 17th International Footwear Industrial Fair began in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, on Thursday. The Footwear Manufacturer's Association of Nepal (FMAN) is organising the fair with the objective of marketing Nepali products and preparing base for economic prosperity. [caption id="attachment_32176" align="alignnone" width="1000"] President Bidya Devi Bhandari inaugurates the 17th International Footwear Industrial Fair organised by the Footwear Manufacturer's Association of Nepal (FMAN) at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, on Thursday, January 5, 2023. Photo: RSS[/caption] President Bidya Devi Bhandari inaugurated the three-day fair. Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the fair, she pointed out the need for increasing domestic production to contribute to a self-reliant economy. She emphasized the importance of sustainable use of resources available in the country. Proper use and mobilisation of labour, skills and raw material can boost production, which could be exported for reducing trade loss, President Bhandari suggested. "In the present competitive age, diversification of production and interest of consumers should be considered for developing branding and international marketing of the products," she viewed. [gallery columns="1" link="file" size="full" ids="32175,32178"] She said the footwear industry has a significant role to prop up Nepal's economy. She hoped the fair would help foster government-private sector partnership. On the occasion, Minister without portfolio, Damodar Bhandari, expressed his view that the government was positive to promote domestic production. The government's common minimum programme will address the problems being faced by the footwear industrial sector, he added. [caption id="attachment_32177" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) President Shekhar Golchha addresses inauguration programme of 17th International Footwear Industrial Fair organised by Footwear Manufacturer's Association of Nepal (FMAN) at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, on Thursday, January 5, 2023. Photo: RSS[/caption] Similarly, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) President Sekhar Golchha viewed there is huge potential for the export of Nepal's footwear, which the government can facilitate to help realise it. There are 130 stalls at the fair where 90 domestic and 40 international brand products are on display and on sale. READ ALSO:

• Govt policy positive in making footwear sector self-reliant: FMAN
• FCAN hails budget for promoting export
• Budget for FY 2022/23 focuses on issues in vision paper prepared by FNCCI
• First dental trade fair to kick off in Lalitpur today
• 19th Handicraft Trade Fair concludes; business worth Rs 100m recorded