The ninth edition of Nepal International Trade Fair (NITF) will take place in Kathmandu from March 16 to 20, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) informed at a press meet held on January 12.
The international trade fair being organised by FNCCI every year could not take place for the last two years due to Covid 19 pandemic.
The five-day fair going to be organised as a calendar event and will be held in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN).
FNCCI also announced the opening of stall booking for those who want to participate in the trade fair.
This year, there will be participation from China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan in the fair. Nepali handicraft items, NTIS products and other made-in-Nepal products will also be showcased at the fair. For the first time, there will be a special exhibition of the products and services of the 123 member associations of the FNCCI.
FNCCI hopes that the exhibition of NTIS products will help to learn about the possibilities of industrial and commercial development in Nepal.
Apart from SAARC countries, buyers from China, Korea, Japan and other countries are also expected to visit the fair which will showcase domestic as well as foreign goods and services through more than 300 stalls.
The fair has also aimed at direct interaction with international buyers. There will be meetings with business representatives from different countries and discussions on bilateral trade promotion and investment.
There will be separate stalls for handicrafts, tourism, information and technology and business information, agricultural products, energy, building and construction, and education among others. FNCCI expects around 50,000 local and foreign visitors at the fair.
The federation expressed its belief that NITF, which has created a unique identity at the national and international levels, will attract international investment and technology to Nepal, promote Nepali products to the international market, and help raise the economy of the country.
Senior citizens and people with disabilities will get free entrance while students will get 50% concession on showing identity cards. The Federation has been organising the international trade fair since 2000.
FNCCI President Shekhar Golchha, Senior Vice President Chandra Prasad Dhakal, Vice President (Industry) Dinesh Shrestha, Vice President (Commodity) Anjan Shrestha, Vice President (Associate) Ramchandra Sanghai, Trade and Export Promotion Centre Executive Director Sharad Vikram Rana addressed the press meet.