Handicraft trade fair from December 16

BY IRANGIKA Range

THE Ministry of Rural Industries and Self Employment Promotion will organise the National Trade Fair Viskam Dethata Saviyak in collaboration with the National Crafts Council and the Textile Department from December 16 to 18 at the BMICH in a bid to introduce local manufacturing products for the national and international market.

An official of the Ministry said that the aim of the exhibition is to develop handicrafts of small and medium-scale industrialists to the international market by providing market facilities under state sponsorship.

Local industrialists will sell their products such as pottery, bronze, foundry, musical instruments, sweets, bamboo, jewellery, palm leaves, coir, cane leather, rush and reed items, textile, paintings, kithul and hand made paper products at 103 trade stalls at the BMICH.

'Local handicrafts have big demand in internationally and our target is to promote local products to compete in the international market.

It also aims to create a new consumer culture which recognises and gives respect for locally manufactured products by supplying consumers at reasonable prices, the official said.

The fair was very successful last year.