‘Budget ignores establishment of SAARC handicraft development centre’

Kathmandu: The Federation of Handicrafts Associations of Nepal (FHAN) has complained that the recent budget failed to address the demand of establishing and operating the SAARC handicrafts development centre.

FHAN’s Chairman Prachanda Shrestha issued a press note on Monday and informed that the budget brought for the coming fiscal year did not speak anything about SAARC handicrafts development centre which was said to be established by the FHAN and SAARC Development Fund.

“The handicraft sector earns over Rs 12 billion annually to the country by providing employments to youths in the field of art, culture and heritage,” he said, wondering why the government did not pay heed to this fact in the budget announcement.

He however said the aim of budget to promote export and link productions to employment is very positive. The Federation is optimistic over the government’s plan to develop the Bagmati Province as an industrial hub and the Lumbini Province as a hub for small and mid-scale industrialists so that national productions could be upped. Also taken positively by the Federation is the scheme of an establishment of Rs 1 billion fund to foster environment for startups. It would further encourage youths’ participation and innovation in new entrepreneurship, it added.

The FHAN demanded the government that it ensured incorporation of all entrepreneurs in the international exhibition to be constructed at Chovar, Kathmandu with public-private partnership.

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