KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Balendra (Balen)Shah has stated that the government is fully committed to the development, expansion, and preservation of Nepal’s handicraft sector, assuring business leaders of immediate steps to address industry concerns.

During a meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar, Prime Minister Shah met with a delegation from the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal to discuss policy reforms, skill transfer, art preservation, and job creation.

Responding to the federation’s proposals, the Prime Minister expressed positive support for establishing a Handicraft Development Board under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model and instructed his team to coordinate with the Home Ministry to recognize National Handicraft Day officially.

He also offered assurances regarding the reinstatement of a halted 5 percent export incentive, transitioning export procedures to mandatory invoice valuation, and handing back the SAARC Handicrafts Development Centre building to the handicraft sector.

The meeting was attended by Federation President Rabindra Shakya, Senior Vice President Raj Man Bajracharya, Vice President Kiran Kumar Sthapit, Advisor Bikas Ratna Dhakhwa, and exporter Maheshwar Shrestha.