KATHMANDU, May 31: The Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN) on Wednesday said that the government has neglected the handicraft sector.
Issuing a statement, the umbrella body of handicraft producers and exporters said that the budget for fiscal year 2017/18 does not have any specific plans and programs that encourages the handicraft sector.
“We had requested to the government to provide 10 percent export incentives to handicraft industries which export majority of products to foreign countries. But our request fell on deaf ears,” FHAN said, adding that the government's target of creating half a million jobs within the next five years will be impossible to meet without the support of the private sector.
FHAN has requested to the government to work jointly with the private sector to create jobs.
The federation also criticized the government for not allocating any funds for the 'Craft Village' that FHAN has proposed to build for promotion and development of handicraft sector.
FHAN has been demanding that the government allocate funds for the 'Craft Village' for the past 10 years.
The federation also expressed dissatisfaction at the lack of programs and incentives in the budget for handicraft entrepreneurs to participate in international expos and marts.
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