The 16th edition of the International Industrial Trade Fair and Cottage Industry Festival organised by the Federation of Nepali Cottage and Small Scale Industries in association with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies began in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu on Tuesday.

As many as 183 cottage industries from Nepal and other SAARC countries are exhibiting their products at the five-day fair.

The main aim of the exhibition is to promote local industries and the consumption of domestic products, according to the organisers. “Entrepreneurs will be provided mentorship in financing, production technology and marketing.”

“We want to help local entrepreneurs to utilise indigenous knowledge and skills using modern technology,” said Deepak Pathak, a member of the organising committee. “Only a robust domestic industry can help us attain economic independence.”

The micro-entrepreneurs participating in the fair hope the initiative will provide them with much needed exposure.

Sagar Lama, from Ramechhap, was promoting “Juicy Junar” produced by his company Sagar Agro Concern and Supplies at the exhibition on Wednesday.

“Though sweet oranges are produced in abundance in my village, we are unable to store them for sale in the off-season due to the lack of cold storage facilities,” said Lama. “Producing sweet orange juice has been a lucrative business as well as an effective way to prevent them from rotting away.”

Lama started his business three years ago with the support from the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernisation Project. “I plan to promote my product in all the major cities across the country,” he said.

Satya Devi Khadka from Dailekh was exhibiting the handicrafts made by the Raute community, a nomadic tribe in Western Nepal, on Wednesday.

“I run a non-government organisation to help the Raute community,” Khadka said. “The revenue from the sale of these products will be spent on the welfare of Raute children.”

Khadka aims to bring medicinal herbs, and indigenous tools and utensils of the Raute as well as other marginalised communities to similar exhibitions in the coming days.

The entrepreneurs, however, said it was difficult to market their products to the right market segment.

Laxman Mandal established Mithila Nari Hastakala to promote the production and sale of Mithila arts around three decades ago.

Mandal said he wanted to learn to promote his art on social media as people have been selling them online under their own brand name after buying from him.

“I want to sell them online too, but digital marketplaces are asking a high fee,” said Mandal. “And I don’t know how to sell on my own.”

Jaya Ram Manandhar from Panauti has been making art pieces from wheat straw for the last three decades. He has 12 employees in his factory.

“The demand and feedback from visitors at the exhibition has been inspiring,” said Manandhar, who has a product portfolio ranging from Rs50 to Rs400,000.

The organising committee and respective local governments have provided Mandal, Manandhar and several other entrepreneurs free stalls.

Clothes, delicacies, cosmetics and leather items will be exhibited in the fair, which will last till Saturday.