KATHMANDU: Basantapur Dabali area and its surroundings are decked out with handicraft goods, clothes, bags, ornaments and articles manufactured from metal and clay on the occasion of World Tourism Day.

A day-long handicraft exhibition organized by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Hanumandhoka Durbar Area Tourism Association, on Tuesday, has attracted more tourists to the area.

On the occasion, Deputy Mayor of KMC, Sunita Dangol, said Nepal is in the front position due to traditional art, craft, culture and indigenous handicraft production. She pointed out the need of producing quality goods and promoting them in order to take domestic products to the global market.

Domestic products like metal crafts, pashmina, woodcraft, and paper craft are in demand in India, China, the USA, Europe, Japan, Canada, and other countries. The Nepali handicraft sector has contributed to some extent to reducing the trade deficit.

It is said that the handicraft sector has been providing employment to around one million people and contributing to buttress the foreign currency reserves through exports.

There is a demand of handicraft goods worth Rs 10 billion in the country and handicraft goods worth around Rs 15 billion are exported in a year.

Associations, organizations, and entrepreneurs associated with the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal participated in the expo.