Over 100 Nepali traders to take part in Kunming fair-China South Asia Expo 2013

More than 100 Nepali traders will be taking part in the first China South Asia Expo 2013 to be held from June 6 in Kunming, Yunnan province, China.

The government of Yunnan province organized a promotional event in Kathmandu on Monday to promote the event. China’s Ministry of Commerce and the People’s Government of Yunnan Province is co-hosting the expo.

Li Jiang, executive vice governor of Yunnan, officially invited Nepal to take part in the fair. She added that it would help in promoting diplomatic and economic relations between Nepal and China.

Addressing the programme, Suraj Vaidya, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) said that the fair would be a good platform for Nepali traders to gain exposure in the international market and promote Nepali products. He added that the FNCCI would be leading a delegation to the event. He also encouraged Nepali traders to take part in it.

Meanwhile, commerce secretary Lal Mani Joshi said that the Chinese delegation’s visit would be instrumental in making the expo successful and further strengthen Nepal-China ties.

Di Rong, economic and commercial counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu, said that trade between Nepal with China jumped 67 percent to US$ 1.99 billion in 2012. She added that China was the second largest importer of Nepal’s products.

Similarly, Anoop Ranjan Bhattarai, president of the Nepal China Executive Council, said that Nepal would have 85 booths at the expo. He added that almost all types of Nepali export products would be displayed at the expo including copper and bronze products, thankas, woodcraft, jewellery, herbal soap, organic coffee, organic tea, pashmina and wooden furniture, among others.

The 21st China Kunming Import and Export Fair will be held concurrently.

source: the kathmandu post,16 april 2013