Pokhara, 25 December| The ongoing 21st edition of the Lekhnath Festival in Kaski has introduced a unique platform integrating industry, agriculture, and culture through direct dialogue. On Tuesday, the sixth day of the festival, an ‘Industrial Discourse’ was organized on the main stage, creating an environment for direct interaction between industrialists, policy makers, and consumers for the first time. Initially started to promote orange farming, the festival has evolved into a comprehensive hub for promoting local arts, culture, and industries. During the session, prominent entrepreneurs including Bikram Karmacharya of Karmacharya Group, Pampha Devkota of Deep Ice Cream, and Narayan Prasad Bastola of Manakamana Plywood shared their stories of struggle and success while emphasizing the importance of branding domestic products.
Representing the provincial government, Maharaj Dhakal, Chief of the Industry Division at the Ministry of Industry and Tourism of Gandaki Province, highlighted the need to increase the limits of industrial subsidies. He noted that high costs associated with Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) often hinder small projects and mentioned that efforts are being made to bring subsidies within a more effective framework. The festival has significantly stimulated the local market, attracting about 25,000 visitors on Tuesday alone. According to Publicity Coordinator Dhrubababu Bhattarai, the festival is recording daily transactions of approximately 10 million rupees. This initiative has been lauded by stakeholders for its role in encouraging small and medium-sized entrepreneurs and promoting regional industrial development through constructive debate.
