The “8th Handicraft Trade Fair and 6th Craft Competition”, organized by our local partner Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal (FHAN), concluded on Monday, February 22, 2010. The five-day trade fair received an overwhelming response from both the domestic as well as the international visitors. It saw a footfall of 100,000 visitors and recorded a business worth Rs 50 million. A half of the total visitors were potential buyers, i.e., people related to the handicraft sector, international importers and domestic exporters. According to Pushkar Man Shakya, coordinator of the event and immediate past president of FHAN, the exhibitors have received orders for life size statues, handmade papers, silver products and carpets from UK, Japan, Korea, USA as well as local exporters. The pavilion concept was the chief attraction of the trade fair. Altogether there were 150 stalls and 7 pavilions of specific products. The pavilion of handmade paper was awarded with the “Best Pavilion Award” worth Rs. 100,000. Similarly, the pavilions of Lalitpur Handicraft Association and Felt products won the second (Rs. 50,000) and the third prize (Rs. 25,000) respectively. Likewise, under the 6th Craft Competition, cash prize worth Rs. 25,000 each were awarded to the best silver product design, felt product design and textile design. Also, the stall from Palpa bagged an award of Rs. 25,000 for the “Best district participation”.