Souvenir houses to sell local products of Karnali

BY RAJANI YOGI,Surkhet, Dec. 9: Karnali Provincial government is planning to operate ‘Koseli Ghars’ (souvenir houses) to promote industrial production and construct trekking trails in the northern Surkhet Valley, a popular tourist area, to promote tourism. 

A procedure is currently being developed for the operation of the existing souvenir houses, and build new souvenir houses. 

The Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment has drafted the procedure. According to the ministry's secretary, Dirgha Narayan Koirala, the procedure will help organise and operate the existing souvenir houses and facilitate the construction of new ones as needed. 

The government intends to establish industrial villages and operate souvenir houses to market indigenous products. This initiative is part of the policy and programme for the current fiscal year 2024/025 and is being actively implemented. The goal is to boost the production of local goods and support their marketing. Products from small and domestic industries will be displayed in the souvenir houses at appropriate market prices.

The procedure for operating these houses is now in its final stages. Secretary Koirala said that once the procedure was finalised, it would streamline the management of souvenir houses across the province.

In previous fiscal years, the provincial government allocated budget funds to build souvenir houses. This year, the focus is on developing a procedure to manage them effectively. The primary objective is to utilise these structures efficiently and promote the marketing of indigenous products. This has been prioritised in the current fiscal year’s policy, programme and budget.

The procedure is also being developed to encourage the purchase of locally produced goods and services through government procurement. The government plans to start operating these houses this year with an emphasis on marketing indigenous products and supporting local industries.

The Directorate of Industry and Consumer Protection has informed that 90 per cent of the construction of a souvenir house in Birendranagar has been completed, with the finishing touches underway. According to Padma Lal Lamichhane, the director of the Directorate, the construction began following a contract signed on October 6, 2020.

Meanwhile, the provincial government has planned to build trekking trails in collaboration with the private sector.  This year, areas such as Katkuwa, Lade, Gothikanda and Siddhapaila in the northern Surkhet Valley will be developed into hiking and trekking trails.

According to Niraj Shrestha, information officer at the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment, a budget of Rs. 1.5 million has been allocated for the construction of these trails, which will span from Kare Khola to Siddhapaila. The northern region of the valley has been prioritised for this project, which aims to develop these areas as hiking and trekking destinations to boost tourism.

Locals from Birendranagar regularly hike to these locations, but the lack of proper trekking trails has caused difficulties. The government is addressing this by constructing new trails, with the added goal of promoting locally available products.