Made in Nepal Expo

The fifth edition of the Made in Nepal Expo is scheduled to start on April 10 at Bhrikuti Mandap.

The fair is being organised by the Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs Forum (NYEF) in association with Rise Global, an event management company.

The expo aims to promote Nepali products and services in the domestic market. The organizers said the purpose of the fair was to make visitors aware of the potential of Nepali products and help boost the country’s economy, create employment and develop youth entrepreneurship.

The four-day expo will feature 130 stalls showcasing a range of products like leather products, footwear, garments, medical products, decorative items, textiles, handicrafts, furniture, confectionery items, fast moving consumer goods, dairy products and herbal items, among others.

The organiser said that around 60 percent of the stalls had been booked so far. Niranjan Shrestha, president of the NYEF, said that the expo would help to promote entrepreneurship besides raising awareness about the use of domestic products. “Many products and services are good in terms of quality and service, and they are doing well too,” he said, adding that there was a need for proper branding and promotion.

Likewise, Sudarshan Basnet, coordinator of the fair, said that they were trying to encourage people to use domestic goods through the expo. “If we start using domestic goods and services, it will be an incentive for entrepreneurs which will ultimately help economic development besides reducing the trade deficit,” said Basnet.

He added that many small, cottage and big industries had been opened in the country, and that their products were becoming competitive too. “For example, cement and footwear, among many other industries, have been striving for import substitution in recent years which is really good for us,” he said.

Shivam Cement is the main sponsor of the event. Surendra Kumar Goyal, chief executive officer of Shivam Cement, said, “We are producing cement using domestic limestone. We are also providing employment to 2,000 people.” He stressed the need to create economic opportunities for youths who have been forced to leave the country in search of better prospects.

The organisers have expected 100,000 visitors. Visitors dressed in Nepal’s national costume or wearing a Dhaka cap will not be charged an entry fee. The price of a ticket for other attendees has been fixed at Rs20.

source: the kathmandu post,26 March 2015