November 16: The export of handicraft items has declined by 50 percent in the last two years as the global economy has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic has had a direct impact on export business and tourism.

According to the Federation of Handicraft Association of Nepal (FHAN), before the outbreak of the pandemic, handicraft items worth Rs 10 to 12 billion used to be exported from Nepal every year. However, after the pandemic hit the world economy for almost two years, the export business of handicrafts has also declined by about 50 percent to Rs 6 billion.

FNCCI Fair Committee Coordinator Rabindra Shakya said that the federation is going to run an online portal called e-kala Nepal to run the business in a new way by turning the challenges caused by the pandemic into an opportunity.

The online portal will be launched on the occasion of the 18th Handicraft Trade Fair and the 16th Craft Competition to be held in Kathmandu from November 19 to 21.

According to the federation, handicraft items worth Rs 6 billion are sold in the domestic market every year. The major international markets for Nepali handicrafts are the United States, China and European countries.