FHAN concludes ‘Golden Year’ celebration

• Contribution of handicrafts to the economy unique

KATHMANDU: The Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) concluded various programmes organised to celebrate the 'Golden Year' of its establishment. The Federation started the programmes on December 14, 2021. FHAN concluded the golden year amid a programme held in Kathmandu on December 14, 2022, and launched the 11th Handicraft Day. In the programme, Lalitpur Metropolitan City Mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan said that Lalitpur and handicrafts are synonymous and mentioned that it is a matter of pride that the Metropolis has been declared the 35th craft city in the world. The metropolis has been granted membership as a Craft City by the World Crafts Council (WCC). Maharjan said after getting the membership of WCC, the metropolis could not do good work in the craft sector due to Covid-19 pandemic. However, he said from now on, the metropolis will do good work in this sector On the occasion, Maharjan informed that Koseli Ghar, a storehouse for handicrafts produced in Lalitpur area, has been managed at Patandhoka and will be inaugurated within a week following mid-January. Addressing the event, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) President Shekhar Golchha expressed his view that Nepal is renowned for its handicrafts worldwide so the country should be proud of it. He informed that FNCCI has been taking initiatives to address the problems being faced by the industrial and commercial sectors including the handicraft business. Likewise, Acting President of Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), Kamlesh Agarwal, opined that Lalitpur, the capital of handicrafts, and its inventiveness should be preserved. Similarly, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) Vice President Birendra Raj Pandey mentioned that the problems of handicraft sector have to be addressed as the sector plays a vital role in the export area. He also emphasized the importance of using handicraft items in the domestic market. FHAN President Prachanda Shakya opined that a handicraft village should be brought into operation soon and youths should be engaged in this sector while the government should support for increasing exports and domestic consumption. Former presidents of the federation and long-serving employees were honoured in the programme. READ ALSO:

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