24th National Industrial Expo kicks off

The 24th National Industrial Exhibition kicked off at Bhrikuti Mandap Exhibition Hall on Wednesday. The five-day event is being organized by Cottage and Small Industries Development Board (CSIDB) with the objective to promote goods manufactured by small and micro enterprises.

The expo showcases products from all 75 districts.

The expo features 300 stalls - two each from 75 districts and 150 from Kathmandu Valley.

Inaugurating the expo, Chairman of Interim Election Government Khila Raj Regmi urged everyone to create favorable environment to hold as election at the earliest. “The government is always ready to promote small and micro enterprises,” Regmi also said, “Entrepreneurs also need to enhance their creativity.”

Regmi also said the government is in the process of amending Industrial Enterprises Promotion Act in line with the Industrial Act to promote small and cottage industries. He also said the government is doing groundwork to open handicraft village in all five development regions.

The expo has showcased goods under 13 different groups. Products like Dhaka, allo and natural products, leather shoes and goods, handicrafts, food items, organic vegetables, tea, coffee and spices, herbs, felt products, bamboo products, handmade papers and woolen goods, among others has been showcased at the expo.

Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Shankar Prasad Koirala, who also looks after Industry and Commerce and Supplies portfolios, said the government is preparing amend existing policies so as to encourage public sector to use local products as per the suggestions of the private sector. “We will soon hold a meeting with private sector to address problems facing the small and medium- scale enterprises (SMEs),” said Koirala.

CSIDB has been organized the expo every year to promote goods produced by small scale industries and to establish them at the national level. “We will award 15 entrepreneurs - one best entrepreneur each from 13 groups, a woman entrepreneur and a micro entrepreneur -- on the sidelines of the event in order to motivate the entrepreneurs,” Nabin Kumar Jha, executive director of CSIDB, said.

Meanwhile, small and medium scale entrepreneurs have underlined the need to amend Nepal Rastra Bank´s guideline so that SMEs can have easy access to bank loans.

The organizers are expecting total transaction of Rs 30 million and more than 100,000 visitors. They are charging Rs 10 per person as entrance fee. Students, however, get free entry.

source: republica,20 March 2013