image001The 14th Handicraft Trade Fair and 12th Craft Competition organising by Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) is all set to go. FHAN is organising the fair in cooperation with Ministry of Commerce, Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS Program) and Trade and Export Promotion Centre with a slogan ' Possibility of Handicraft Expansion' at Exhibition Hall, Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu from November 25 to 29. The fair which is being organised with an objective of promoting handicraft items will have 176 stalls with 7 pavilions. "The fair will have more than 200 exhibitors showcasing crafts ranging from home decor to home textile, personal accessories to precious metal crafts and so on," informed FHAN. "The fair is being organised with an objective of development, expansion and promotion of handicraft trade and expand its internal as well as international market," said Dharma Raj Shakya, President of FHAN. "The handicraft industry makes the highest contribution to the economy after agricultural industry. The sector has also helped earning foreign currency," he added. According to Hom Nath Upadhya, Vice-President of FHAN, handicrafts worth Rs 10 billion are exported from Nepal annually. He voiced that more than 1.1 million people are employed in the industry directly and indirectly.