UKAID सीप Launches its Partnership with the Palpali Dhaka Association, Provincial and Local Governments, and other Key Market Stakeholders to Revive the Palpali Dhaka Industry

A partnership signing between Ashok Kumar Shahi, Mayor of Tansen, Purna Maya Maharjan, President of PDA and Baljit Vohra, Team Leader of UKaid सीप took place during the event where more than 300 participants, which mostly comprised of women Dhaka weavers from Tansen, the provincial assembly members, and members of the Province 5 cabinet including Madhu Kumar Marasini, Secretary of Ministry of Economic Affairs and Planning and Dr. Gopi Krishna Khanal, Secretary of Ministry of Social Development.

The Association will lead this multi-stakeholder partnership designed to upgrade the training infrastructure and capacity at the factories, generate gainful employment for more than 1,500 Nepalis by 2022, inject innovation in fabric design, strengthen backwards and forward market linkages.

Speaking at the program, Honorable Chief Minister remarked, “This is the beginning of a new era for Palpali Dhaka and this is an opportunity for not only the people of Palpa but of the entire Province to step up and help promote the brand.”

Mayor Shahi reiterated the Municipality’s focus on providing employment for single women in the through the Dhaka industry. “We are very pleased to launch this partnership which will see work towards creating local employment, especially for single women and for people from underprivilege background.”

Speaking on behalf of DFID, Nathaneal Bevan, Deputy Head of Office at DFID Nepal remarked, “It is important for the UK to be supporting such partnerships in the provinces as it aligns with our support for federalism in Nepal. We are excited to be support this partnership which aims to create jobs and provide essential skills to rural poor and marginalized communities.”

Similarly, Sagar Maharjan, Coordinator of Palpali Dhaka Association spoke about the how the launch of the Association is a matter of pride for the people of Palpa as a whole. “In its more than 60-year-old history, this is the first and only association of Dhaka entrepreneurs in Nepal. We are excited about this partnership which will help us reach a larger market and establish the Palpali Dhaka as a quality brand internationally. This is a matter of pride for all of us,” said Maharjan.

“Nobody believed in us when we first started the Dhaka business,” says Purna Maya Maharjan, who co-founded one of the first Dhaka enterprises in Tansen in 1959 with her husband, “but even through the ups and downs, we never compromised on the quality. However, the past few years have been difficult due to high demand but low production. So, I am happy that through the Association we can continue giving employment to our sisters here, who are the heart of the industry.”

The event also saw a marketplace where members of PDA had put their products on display which was very well received by the guests.