[8 October 2021, Kathmandu] Today, UKaid Skills for Employment (सीप) Programme and Label STEP, commemorated the innovations and impacts that are unfolding from their enterprise-driven partnership with diverse carpet industry actors, both national and international. This partnership, since 2019, has set in motion the decentralization of Nepal’s carpet industry—adding Sarlahi in Province 2 in addition to Kathmandu—to support and strengthen availability of skilled and productive weavers for sustainability and growth of the artisans and entrepreneurs associated with the sector.
Press Release
UKaid सीप and Label STEP Showcase New Success Model for Expanded Jobs and Inclusive Growth of the Nepali Carpet Industry
Hand-woven carpets are an important export product and a vital source of foreign exchange earnings, as well as employment creation in Nepal. UKaid सीप’s partnership with Label STEP, has led to the establishment of seven weaving workshops across Sarlahi—all designed and organized in compliance with STEP’s fair trade standards, and already benefitting over 400 weavers. “With catalytic support from UKaid सीप, Label STEP and a few pioneering carpet exporters and international buyers embarked on a journey to create a new success model—addressing critical skills, labor, and production bottlenecks—for the Nepali carpet industry,” explained Baljit Vohra, Team Leader, of UKaid सीप. (Read more...)