Pokhara, 28 November| The Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is set to organize the 34th National Industrial Trade Fair and the 13th CAN Infotech (2082 Pokhara) from December 3 to December 7 (Mangsir 17 to 21) at the Exhibition Centre in Naya Bazar, Pokhara. The five-day event, guided by the slogan ‘Investment Promotion: Industry-Business Promotion,’ is aimed at exploring commercial possibilities and fostering entrepreneurship across Gandaki Province. The PCCI announced on Tuesday through a press conference that preparations for the fair are well underway, with Nepal Manipal Teaching Hospital, based in Pokhara, serving as the main co-traveler and key partner for this edition.
Gokarna Karki, President of the PCCI, stated that the collaboration with Manipal was made possible as the hospital’s objectives align with the PCCI’s vision of promoting Pokhara as a city of education, health, tourism, and agriculture. Recalling the vision of transforming Pokhara into a city of education, health, and tourism since the 1980s, Karki highlighted that the city’s geographical location and climate are suitable for health tourism, which could generate significant foreign currency and create employment. He emphasized that the fair is dedicated to promoting and marketing industrial, agricultural, handicraft, information technology, educational, health, tourism, and other sector products from Pokhara and the entire Gandaki Province. Karki believes such fairs help boost the morale of the private sector, which has been low following the ‘Gen Z’ movement, thereby increasing economic activity. He also mentioned that the duration of the fair has been reduced to five days this year to focus more on entrepreneurship development rather than mere entertainment.
The fair is expected to feature 120 commercial stalls, showcasing industrial products, IT equipment, handicrafts, and agricultural output. Purushottam Kunwar, President of the Computer Association of Nepal (CAN), Kaski chapter, informed that the CAN Infotech section will feature exhibition and sales booths for hardware and software products related to information technology. He added that the inclusion of the 13th CAN Infotech, which CAN Kaski has been organizing for the past 13 years, is intended to allow various IT institutions to showcase and sell the latest technology and devices that simplify daily life. Kunwar also shared that there are plans to launch new products, host interactive sessions on ICT, offer career counseling, and conduct awareness programs on cyber security.
In addition to the exhibitions, the fair will feature symposiums on topics related to entrepreneurship promotion, investment-friendly policies, innovation, information technology, and agriculture. To enhance visitor attraction, traditional and cultural programs will also be organized. The PCCI first organized the National Industrial Trade Fair in Pokhara in 1985 (B.S. 2042). The PCCI General Secretary, Shobha Gautam, informed that CAN Kaski, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), and the FNCCI Gandaki Province are the co-organizers, while the Gandaki Province Government, Pokhara Metropolitan City, and Nepal Tourism Board are the promoters of the event.
Entry to the fair is free of charge. The organizers estimate an income of Rs 50 lakh and an expenditure of Rs 45 lakh. The amount saved from the fair will be utilized for entrepreneurship promotion and capacity building of business persons. The program was conducted by General Secretary Shobha Gautam, and Senior Vice President Uttamman Buddhacharya delivered the vote of thanks.
