. KATHMANDU: Federation of Handicraft Entrepreneurs of Nepal (FHAN) is ready to collaborate with the government for the development, expansion and protection of handicraft sector and promotion of the international market.

At a meeting of FNCCI office-bearers at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Monday, Prime Minister Balendra Shah said that the FNCCI has given priority to the handicraft sector.TAG_OPEN_p_16

On the occasion, Prime Minister Shah said that the handicraft sector was directly linked to Nepal’s unique art, culture and employment and the government was committed to the preservation of art, transfer of skills, expansion of production and employment generation.TAG_OPEN_p_15

The federation had demanded the formation of Handicraft Development Board in the private-private partnership (PPP) model.TAG_OPEN_p_14 The FNCCI said that Prime Minister Shah was positive to the proposal.

Similarly, the Federation had demanded that the Handicraft Day, which has been celebrated on December 12 on December 12, be recognized at the national level and formally celebrated.TAG_OPEN_p_13 Prime Minister Shah directed his team to coordinate with the Home Ministry at the earliest regarding this matter.

} The government has positively taken the suggestion of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) that the revenue will increase if the invoice valuation is made mandatory instead of the valuation system currently being done on the basis of self-declaration in handicraft exports. He also assured that the Prime Minister would take initiative to resume the five per cent incentive amount to the exporters of handicraft goods, which has been stopped for the last three years.

The FNCCI had also demanded that the building of SAARC Handicraft Development Centre, which has already been constructed on the premises of the Department of Industry, is currently being used by other offices.TAG_OPEN_p_11 The FNCCI has said that Prime Minister Shah has expressed commitment to take necessary initiatives in this regard.

Discussions were also held on setting up ‘handicraft village’ in the Kathmandu Valley, operating handicraft skills training centre in all seven provinces and constructing artistic infrastructures in collaboration with construction entrepreneurs.TAG_OPEN_p_10 Prime Minister Shah is said to have shown special interest in these proposals.

On the occasion, the federation had presented various suggestions and demands for the preservation of traditional skills and art, distribution of identity cards to handicraft workers, market expansion and export promotion.TAG_OPEN_p_9

The meeting was attended by FNCCI President Rabindra Shakya, Senior Vice-President Rajman Bajracharya, Vice-President Kiran Kumar Sthapit, Advisor Bikash Ratna Dhakwa and Senior Exporter Maheshwor Shrestha.