Nepal Woman Crafts An Innovative Approach to Promoting Women Entrepreneurship and Productive Employment International Conference on Green Enterprises and Green Industrial Parks a step forward for innovative and resource efficient entrepreneurships SHANTI CHADHA NEPAL WOMAN CRAFTS July 18-20, 2013; Hyderabad Page 1
NEPAL Home to the highest mountain in the world, Sagarmatha. Land of the brave Gurkhas. Nepal has a population of 29 million. Strategically situated between India and China. Capital: Kathmandu Page 2
Nepal Woman Crafts Nepal Woman Crafts, a private company based in Kathmandu, are manufacturers, wholesalers, merchandisers and exporters of handmade papers, paper products and traditional handicrafts. Products from the company have found markets worldwide with regular exports to 18 countries besides a network of retail operations in the capital. Established in 1993. Page 3
Why the handmade paper industry My experience with working with grass root to mid level producer groups, especially women. Nepal has rich forests and the raw material to make handmade Nepali paper from the Lokta shrub is available in abundance and regenerates itself thus maintaining the ecological balance. It is a complete Nepali product that utilises all Nepali resources and expertise while generating employment opportunities for thousands of people even in the most remote Himalayan areas. Products made from Lokta paper found huge interest in global markets because of its unique history and usage. Page 4
Process of Paper Making Gathering the bark from the high Himalayas. Lokta plant is found in 52 of the 75 districts in Nepal and grows wildly at an altitude of 6500 to 9500 feet. The bark is dried, cleaned, boiled, washed and beaten into pulp. This pulp is then spread onto a floating frame after which the frames are sun dried. Flowers, mud, fruit pulp, leaves, herbs can be added to make decorative papers. These papers can be made according to choice of size and in different textures, weights and colors. They can be made as thin tissue to art paper and wall papers. Is insect resistant, highly durable and has medicinal properties. Page 5
Our product line *Paper sheets *Stationary *Exclusive range of gift boxes and bags *Antique journals *Albums *Wrapping papers *Wall papers *Incense gift sets *Lamp shades *Note cards *Invitation cards, *Wine bags *Picture frames, etc We have a range of over 700 designs in our product line at a given line. International designers are flown in by our wholesale buyers to create exclusive lines as per their market demand. We also produce a range of products exclusive to our retail line. Page 6
A success story that will always remain special to Nepal Woman Crafts Bajura is a remote region located in far West Nepal. When NWC initiated a project in this area, there was no electricity, no health post and no proper means of livelihood for the locals there. A small collateral free capital investment, technical expertise in papermaking and buy back guarantee of the paper became a success story in three years where the locals became debt free and one unit of papermaking turned into 24 units giving livelihood to thousands of people today. Page 7
What does empowerment mean to us We work with a wide range of producer groups across the country from procurement of raw materials to paper dyeing, screen and block printing, providing work to home based women producers we believe in collaborating for success be it with our international buyers or at the local and grass root level of producer groups. We also initiate and encourage entrepreneurship at different levels besides providing education and health support to our network of producers at whatever level we possibly can. Sharing and preserving a traditional craft even as we offer observation and educational tours to young children. Page 8
Name: Shanti Chadha Designation: Managing Director Contact address: Nepal Woman Crafts *Kathmandu Email: nwcrafts@mail.com.np Ph: 977 1 4410149 Mob: 977 9851065246 Thank You! Page 9