Nepal Government Committed to Handicraft Business Expansion

The Nepal government is committed to expanding and protecting the handicraft business in the country, Prime Minister Valendra Shah has said.

During a meeting with representatives of the Nepal Handicraft Business Federation at the Prime Minister’s Office in Singh Durbar on Wednesday, the Prime Minister assured the federation that the government is committed to prioritizing the handicraft business.

The federation’s representatives expressed their readiness to cooperate with the government in any way possible to develop, expand, and protect the handicraft business in Nepal.

Government Support for Handicraft Business

Prime Minister Shah said the government is committed to formulating policies related to handicraft business, protecting art, creating employment opportunities, and transferring handicraft skills.

The Prime Minister also expressed his support for the establishment of a Handicraft Development Board under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, as requested by the federation’s officials.

National Handicraft Day

The federation’s officials had requested that the government declare a national Handicraft Day, which is currently celebrated by the federation on 28th Mangsir.

Prime Minister Shah directed his team to coordinate with the Ministry of Home Affairs to declare the day a national holiday.

Export of Handicraft Products

The federation’s officials suggested that the government make it mandatory for handicraft exporters to undergo a valuation process, which would help increase revenue.

Prime Minister Shah assured the officials that the government would implement this suggestion.

The Prime Minister also assured the officials that the government would reinstate the 5% tax exemption on handicraft exports, which has been suspended for the past three years.

Other Demands

The federation’s officials also made several other demands, including the promotion of traditional handicraft skills and the provision of identity cards to handicraft workers.

Those who participated in the meeting included federation president Ravindra Shaky, senior vice-president Rajman Bajracharya, vice-president Kiran Kumar Sthapit, advisor Vikas Ratna Dhakwa, and exporter Maheshwor Shrestha.