In Nepal the production of handicraft is an age old occupation. Novel handicrafts are also developed in harmony with changing market taste. In the last 30 years, exports of handicraft have been growing. Thus the development of handicraft in one hand helps the conservation of national heritage of country and in other hand it also contributes to alleviate poverty by creating opportunities to Nepalese people. Nepal’s handicraft provides employment to hundreds of thousands of local people. It is also a major source of foreign revenue which is greatly needed for the import of basic necessities as well as development of infrastructures.

Nepal Handmade Paper Association (HANDPASS) registered NEPALOKTA Trade Mark in European Union with cooperation of GTZ/PSP-RUFIN on September 20, 2007 as the property of Nepal Handmade Paper Association. The trademark guaranties quality product produced in standard conditions. The trademark establishes the brand image for Nepali handmade paper in international market.

Nepal Handmade Paper Association has received a grant project from European Commission to run a four year project (2009- 2012) entitled “Enhancement of Sustainable Production of Lokta Handmade Paper Production in Nepal”. The association is the lead organization to run the project for the benefit of the entire handmade paper sector and supported by GTZ/ INCLUDE for its implementation.

As per the agreement with the European Commission on December 18, the project will be initiated from January 15, 2009 and will be concluded by the end of December, 2012. The project is focused on the following areas of handmade paper sector:

• Proper method of lokta collection to make handmade paper production a sustainable and environmentally friendly sector.
• Proper methods of paper production in the hills and mountains making it environmentally positive industry and to create better income for marginalized farmers of hills and mountains by reducing cost of production and improvement of the quality of their output
• Development of tissue culture of lokta for sustainable supply of the raw material
• Enhancing the capacity of entrepreneurs, involved in handmade paper sector, for quality paper product
• To support micro, small and medium enterprises for making them environmentally responsible enterprise
• Expansion of Nepalese paper market in global market by participating in different trade fairs and organizing buyer seller meet in Kathmandu.

The project of Euro 1.4 Million is mainly funded by European Commission with 90% contribution. The balance amount of the project has to be funded by GTZ and the association.

The project will cover 18 districts reaching about 30,000 marginalized farmers for proper extraction of lokta. More than 300 micro units of 18 districts involved in handmade paper production will be reached to improve their paper production technique, for lowering input cost and improved quality. More than 50 SMEs engaged in producing different paper products will be supported to increase their quality and design. There will be participation in eight trade fairs mainly in European Union. Buyer seller meet will be organized in Nepal to increase market. Tissue culture techniques will be developed for lokta plantations. It is also expected that Nepal Handmade Paper Association will be strengthened to make it better organization for supporting its members after the completion of the project.

The project is going to be officially launched on 19 Jan, 2009 in the presence of Honourable Minister of Industry Astha Laxmi Sakya along with the representative of European Commission Mr. Alexender Spatich and Mr. Horst Amnman from GTZ.

Source: http://www.handpass.org/