KATHMANDU, July 23: Prime Minister Balen Shah has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preserving Nepal’s handicraft industry, promoting traditional arts and creating employment opportunities through the sector.
Representatives of the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) made the commitment to work closely with the government during a meeting with the prime minister at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Wednesday.
Federation representatives said they were encouraged by the government’s decision to prioritize the handicraft sector and expressed readiness to cooperate on its development, expansion and preservation.
During the discussion, Shah said the government is committed to formulating policies for the handicraft industry, protecting traditional arts, generating employment and ensuring that handicraft skills are passed on to future generations.
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The prime minister also responded positively to the federation’s proposal to establish a Handicraft Development Board under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Federation officials also requested that National Handicraft Day, currently observed independently by the federation on Mangsir 28 each year, be officially recognized and celebrated nationwide. Shah instructed his team to coordinate with the Home Ministry on the proposal.
The prime minister further assured participants that the government would consider replacing the current self-declaration system for handicraft exports with a mandatory invoice-based valuation system, a measure officials said would help increase government revenue.
He also pledged to address the suspension of the 5 percent export incentive for handicraft products, which federation representatives said has remained unpaid for the past three years.
The federation also requested that a building constructed for the SAARC Handicraft Development Centre within the Department of Industry, but currently occupied by the Office of the Company Registrar, be returned for its intended purpose. Shah said the government would work toward resolving the issue.
The prime minister also expressed interest in establishing a Handicraft Village in the Kathmandu Valley and opening handicraft skills training centers in all seven provinces.
In addition, he welcomed a proposal for cooperation between handicraft artisans and construction companies to incorporate traditional artistic craftsmanship into infrastructure projects.
Federation officials also called for measures to preserve traditional skills and issue official identity cards to handicraft workers.
The meeting was attended by FHAN President Rabindra Shakya, Senior Vice President Rajman Bajracharya, Vice President Kiran Kumar Sthapit, adviser Bikash Ratna Dhakhwa, and leading exporter Maheshwar Shrestha.
