In a joint initiative by the Nepal Tourism Board, Gandaki Province, and Embroidery and Garment Association (EGA) Pokhara, a Handicraft and Garment Mart is scheduled to be held in Pokhara on Poush 14 and 15, 2082. The event aims to connect local artisans and garment producers with the tourism sector while promoting their handmade products to a wider audience.
Promoting Locally Produced Textiles and Handicrafts
Maniraj Lamichhane, head of the Gandaki Province Tourism Board, highlighted that the mart will showcase medicinal and natural fiber-based fabrics, including hemp, allo, and sisnu. The initiative intends to help visitors and tourists understand the significance of textiles produced from locally sourced materials.
Linking Tourism with Local Entrepreneurship
Gokarna Lamsal, president of EGA Pokhara, emphasized that the mart will serve as a platform to market Nepali products nationally and internationally. “By incorporating embroidery representing Nepal’s religious and tourist sites into locally produced textiles, EGA aims to strengthen Nepal’s identity in global markets,” Lamsal stated. He added that the mart will also provide tourists with hands-on experiences of domestic products and their production processes.
Encouraging Local Employment and Economic Growth
According to Lamsal, promoting local products is crucial for establishing domestic enterprises, creating jobs, curbing youth migration, and uplifting the rural economy. The mart will help connect potential national and international buyers with local producers, enhancing market opportunities for domestic handicrafts and textiles.
Extensive Participation from Gandaki Province
Surendra Paudel, program coordinator and secretary of EGA Pokhara, stated that participants from Kaski, Syangja, Parbat, Lamjung, Myagdi, Nawalpur, and Rukum East districts will showcase a variety of products made from hemp, allo, wool, and other natural fibers. The mart will feature 14 exhibition booths and 4 weaving stations, where artisans will demonstrate weaving techniques and display their products for visitors.
