The Head of Australian Delegation to SAARC Summit Senator Brett Mason inaugurated a Micro Entrepreneurs' Products exhibition in Kathmandu on Thursday. The expo organized by National Micro Entrepreneurs' Federation Nepal features 20 stalls of different products of Micro Entrepreneurs from various parts of the country. Goods on display and sale include Allo garments, honey, spices, shoes, bamboo furniture and handicrafts, garments, natural herbal soap, etc.

Inaugurating the exhibition at Saleways Department Store in Maharajgunj, Senator Mason said he is happy to see the Entrepreneurship growing in Nepal and added, "After observing the fair, I have come to a conclusion that Nepal has great potential for economic growth through entrepreneurship development."

He was accompanied by his delegation members, Australian Ambassador H.E. Glenn White and Australian Embassy staff.

The delegation was welcomed by UN Resident Coordinator Jamie McGoldrick, Joint Secretaries at the Ministry of Industry Yam Kumari Khatiwada and Jeet Bahadur Thapa, Federation President Kesha Pariyar, UNDP staff and Entrepreneurs.

National Micro Entrepreneurs' Federation is the federated body of Micro Entrepreneurs promoted by Micro Enterprise Development Program (MEDEP), a joint poverty alleviation initiative of the Government of Nepal – Ministry of Industry and UNDP and funded by the Australian Government.  Since 1998, MEDEP has created over 70,000 Micro Entrepreneurs. Recently, the government has internalized MEDEP into Micro Enterprise Development for Poverty Alleviation (MEDPA) and implementing across all districts across the country with an aim of creating 73,000 new Micro Entrepreneurs.