National Industrial Goods and Technology Exhibition is slated to open at Bhrikuti Mandap on February 23. The fair, which is in its 28th edition, will showcase goods manufactured by cottage and small enterprises.

The six-day event is being organised by the Cottage and Small Industries Development Board (CSIDB). At least two small or cottage enterprises from each of the 75 districts in the country are expected to participate.

Goods produced by these cottage and small enterprises will be showcased in 300 stalls, said Binod Kumar Karki, officiating deputy executive director of the CSIDB. “The purpose of organising the exhibition is to promote goods manufactured by small and cottage enterprises,” Karki said. “The exhibition will also provide exposure to small and cottage enterprises and help them promote their brands.”

The theme of the exhibition is ‘Take Pride in Made in Nepal Brands; Use Domestic Products’ and the main exhibits will be goods made of Dhaka and allo.

Enterprises specialising in the production of carpets, statues, incense sticks, handicraft items and sour candy will also take part in the exhibition.

“The market for goods manufactured by cottage and small enterprises is still very small, as many prefer designer and branded products. If they are able to expand their reach, they can contribute to the nation building process by creating jobs for quite a large number of people,” said CSIDB Deputy Executive Director Narayan Mani Lamichhane.

The CSIDB has been hosting the exhibition since the early 1990s. “In the initial days, the exhibition used to have not more than 80 stalls. This was because the concept of promoting businesses through participation in fairs had not developed. Also, many thought that coming all the way to Kathmandu to take part in exhibitions was a waste of money,” said Karki. “We’ve come a long way since then.”

To encourage participation of cottage and small enterprises, the CSIDB has started covering the transportation costs of the representatives who take part in the event, according to Karki. “We also provide Rs500 per day to district representatives who attend the exhibition,” Karki added.

Lately, more and more people have started showing interest in attending the fair, with footfall rising to six figures from five a decade ago, according to Lamichane.

The exhibition, which will continue till February 28, will be open to the public from 10am to 6pm.