Dalai Lama’s sole crafts supplier exploring Lankan designs in Colombo

Tuesday, 4 November 2014 00:45 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

EDB pioneers B2B link with historic Nepali artisans

‘Impressed of Lankan workmanship’: Nepal’s Shakya

‘92.5% quality silverstuff from us’: Int’l Designer Dhakwa

Lankan craft exports to Nepal at $ 0.42 m

The sole art and craft supplier to (HH) Dalai Lama is impressed of the high quality finish of Lankan jewels and metal crafts, as revealed on 31 October and Lankan artisans have been invited to this November’s Handicraft Fair in Kathmandu. “Your artisans’ work and their finish are of good quality. Especially when it comes to your silver crafts, I have not seen such quality of finishing anywhere else, which is the kind of product that HH Dalai Lama likes,” said Sanam Shakya (Executive Member, Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal) on 31 October in Colombo. Executive Member Shakya was making his comments during the EDB facilitated B2B meeting between visiting 12 member business delegation from Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal and Sri Lankan artisans and companies on 31 October in Colombo. The largest ever business delegation to come to Sri Lanka in a decade, the delegation is led by Bikash R. Dhakwa (Member of Board of Directors – Trade and Export Promotion Center – TEPC). This is also the first ever such handicraft focused delegation to visit Sri Lanka from Nepal, with leading Nepali handicraft, gold, silver and metal crafts and other such artisan entrepreneurs also well-known India and Thailand.

Among the reps were international jewellery designer Suman Dhakwa (Valhalla Enterprises, Lalitpur) as well as Sanam Shakya (Executive Member, Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal and sole craft supplier to Dalai Lama). Among the more than 30 gems, jewellery, crafts and design firms of Sri Lanka taking part at 31 October Nepali B2B session were Saroja Jewellery & Art Craft, Sena Gem Trading House Ltd, Kent Display Systems, Sri Lanka Handicrafts, Lanka Masks, Gem ex., Gem Bank, Blue Duke International, and Crest Gems Ltd. Speaking at the introduction round of the B2B, Dhakwa said: “Today we are glad to meet face to face with you, the Lankan artisans, in Colombo, and connect with you directly. We thank EDB for this initiative. We also invite a Sri Lankan handicraft, silver and gold crafters team to the Nepali Handicraft Trade Fair held 20-24 November at the Bhrikuti Mandap Exhibition Hall in Kathmandu.” “It is a great honour for us to meet Sri Lankan artisans and craft producers. Most wooden and metal crafts in Sri Lanka and Nepal are similar. But the pattern and more importantly the finish of Sri Lankan jewellery and crafts are so good, that we can’t see such fine levels back home in Nepal,” said Executive Member Shakya, and added: “Specially when it comes to your silver crafts, I have not seen such quality of finish anywhere else, which is the kind of product that HH Dalai Lama too likes, with some design changes. We Nepali craftsmen need to work together with Lankan artisans through such things as art exchange programs, so that we can learn the techniques from you. Specially, Sri Lankan government assistance to the industry is of high level, perhaps this is the secret of your good quality – not only in terms of production, but even when it comes to support by government of protection of your industry.” The history of Nepali arts and crafts goes back to fifth century AD and the no less than the Indian statesman Kautilya mentioned about Nepali hand-made crafts in his writings as early as 300 BC. During Colombo’s B2B, international jewellery designer Suman Dhakwa said: “We produce industry-standard 92.5% silver crafts. Our silver products have gained a strong reputation for their high quality of metal and the designs. Hong Kong is our biggest market followed by Canada and Germany. Our silver industry became a leader in Aid for Trade model implementation in Nepal economy.” In 2013, Sri Lanka’s exports to Nepal stood at $ 5.07 million of which $ 0.42 million being handicraft and jewellery. The $ 180 billion global silver jewellery market is projected to expand driven by the post-recession demand build-up for silver items.