Kathmandu, Nov. 12: Patan has been declared as a
World Craft City.
The ancient city in the Lalitpur Metropolis is
recognised as the craft city for the unique and sophisticated handicraft
products.
The Asia Pacific Office of the World Crafts Council
(WCC) has awarded the status to Patan and the certificate of recognition will
be handed over to Lalitpur at the inaugural ceremony of the 16th
Handicraft Trade Fair 2018 in Kathmandu which is slated for 14 November, said
Dharma Raj Shakya, President of the Federation of Handicraft Associations of
Nepal (FHAN).
"The certificate will be handed over to Chiri
Babu Maharjan, Mayor of the metropolis on the inaugural of the Handicraft Trade
Fair. This is an achievement which we should be proud of," Shakya said
while talking to The Rising Nepal.
After the recognition as the World Craft City, Patan
would be promoted by the WCC through various channels around the globe.
Shakya said that the city would have benefits such
as new recognition and branding of the city and its artisan, and growing number
of tourists as well as international buyers of its products.
Lalitpur metropolis had applied for the 'Craft City'
identity in August 2018 in cooperation with the FHAN and recommendation of
Nepal Heritage Society, Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry and
Department of Archaeology (DoA).
The WCC said that a network of creative craft cities
worldwide had been launched recently in the framework of the creative economy
and in response to the growing awareness of the contribution of local
authorities, craftspeople and communities to cultural, economic and social
development.
The initiative was launched to highlight reputation
and assets of a creative city in a specific craft field, on a global platform,
and strengthen local potential for innovation and the development of creative
tourism.
Likewise, it also aimed to promote the exchange of
know-how, experiences and best practices in diverse craft fields at the
national, regional and international level, as well as to promote cooperation
and partnership between the craft cities.
WCC's effort also brings a complementary
contribution to the UNESCO's Creative Cities programme.
Currently, there are 27 craft cities around the
world – 19 in Asia and Pacific, six in Latin America and 2 in Europe.
With seven cities in the list, Iran has the largest
number of craft cities followed by China which has five cities, Chile four
cities and India two cities.
Likewise, Jordan, Palestine, Thailand, Lebanon,
Indonesia, Uruguay, Cuba, Denmark and Scotland each have one craft city.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 13 November 2018.
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