Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in association with Federation of Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organizing a National Trade Fair-2064 from Dec. 6 to 15 in resort town Pokhara.The 115-member main organizing team and 30-member adviser committees have already been formed to manage this fair. Similarly in the leadership of PCCI president Deepak Shrestha, a 20-member working committee and 21 different subcommittees also have been formed. Here is presented the excerpt of his interview:

Firstly, tell us how is the preparation of fair?

The preparation is vigorously going on; as this fair directly concerns our fame, we certainly do our best. Advertisements and media campaigns also have been held for weeks. The stall construction materials also would be unloaded within few days in the Pokhara Exhibition Center, Nayabazaar, which is the venue of this fair. Booking of stall is now on and some 3 dozens stalls have already been booked. The booking pressure would be mounted at the end of the preparation.

PCCI has been consecutively organizing such festival for five years; could you tell us the aim of this fair?

The main intention of this fair is the promotion of businesses and industries but there are very few industries in Pokhara however our key concern is the promotion of handicrafts and agro products because we have such industries in large scale in Pokhara. It is the subject of immense proud of all Pokharali that PCCI built its appraisable image as a pioneer organizer of fairs and festivals in Nepal. So our concern is the development of overall economy of Nepal through economic activities. PCCI had organized the Pokhara Festival in 2052 BS, which is probably the first formally organized festival in Nepal. Everybody is known that the PCCI had come up with such festival even in the time of armed conflict of Nepal.

Tell us about the features of this festival?

We would provide special incentives to female entrepreneurs, farmers and industrialists related to agro products for the fulfillment of our dream- Pokhara as a city of education, health, tourism and agriculture, in this fair. In the same way information technology and industrial products also contain the fair to limelight the businessmen and local citizens to the outer world. Visitors could also enjoy the duet songs, band music, Children Park and circuses (maut ka kuwa) in this fair.

These are the regular events that normally happen every year but could you tell us the different aspect of this fair?

There are so many such new things that visitors could get this time. For example fashion show, school level dance competition and special priority to the handicraft industries. It doesn't mean that we are giving less priority to the other industries of Pokhara. We are trying to place the creations and works especially of Pokharalis in these fair even making extra stalls if they like. We are also planning to display a crowd controlling robot made by Tallaj Baral, student of Ratnajyoti Boarding School Pokhara, including other researchable products. We are under discussing of an electronic wheel chair that was made by a student of the Engineering Campus, Lamachaur.

Are there any special additions for entrepreneurs and businessmen?

Of course there are dozens of such things that entrepreneurs could get in this fair. Considering the demand of entrepreneurs, we have scheduled 10 am to 11 am a business hour every day and during this period, entrepreneurs could promote their businesses as well as could take information about others products. If one remained unable to have information he needs, he could get the information from the fair secretariat.

What would be the reaction of the PCCI if anybody is impressed and likes to set a stall in the fair after visiting it?

In such a case, PCCI certainly help him but we do feasibility study before the permission. We are ready to help the farmers groups and also could be provided them required trainings. If anybody likes to form a cottage industry, we could make a lobby for him but he should have the activeness, commitment and eagerness.

Pokhara is known as a touristic city so do you have any plan of promotion of this city through this fair?

We are thinking about it and making discuss with respective entrepreneurs to include tourism related stalls. We hope that the fair would promote the internal tourism because of our advertisements and massive media campaigning. We have already requested the chamber of commerce and industries from Kathmandu, Mechi, Kanchanpur, Chitwan, Myagdi to participate the fair. Their participation would boost the economic activities; such activities benefit Pokharalis including tourism entrepreneurs directly and indirectly.

How do you manage the financial side of this fair?

We have expected some 0.2 million visitors and the transaction of about 120 million rupees. Similarly we have projected that we will income 4.578 million rupees and there we will have 3.532 million rupees in expenditure side in the fair. Sponsor, stall and ticket fares are our sources of income. The fair goes from 10 am to 5.30 pm everyday. Students should pay 15 rupees and other 25 rupees as a ticket fare but it should be paid 50 rupees for business hour.

PCCI has been organizing industrial fairs for the last few years but where have all the savings gone?

I would like to inform you that the most of the savings have been spent in the work of people welfare. Considering a need of an exhibition center in Pokhara, cooperating with Pokhara Valley Urban Development Committee in Nayabazar, we have developed such center at the land of this committee in Nayabazaar. We have already invested some 1.3 million rupee for this center and some of the amounts from this coming fair would also be spent for this center. PCCI had allocated 0.3 million rupees from the saving of last year's fair to purchase a tanker to the fire-brigade in Kaski district.

Would you like to say something at last?

This trade fair is not only the continuity of activities of PCCI but also the important and challenging event for economic, social and cultural development of Western Development Region as well as the nation. So I would like to request all the concerns to take this fair positively for its success and positive message. I also would like to kindly request to all not to launch any strikes during this fair. Lastly, I would like to thank all the media, Pokharalis, civic society and all the people for their supports in the last fairs and also hope further support for the upcoming fair.

Thank You