Report on Carpet Delegation to the UK
(General Secretary Mr. Ashish K. Sengupta)

Observations:
1. A very prominent floor covering show of UK representing complete range of floor coverings including machine knotted and hand knotted carpets/rugs.
2. Two stalls were displaying and selling Nepalese hand knotted carpets.
3. BWMB provided display space for Nepalese carpets woven with British wool blend.
4. The display space was not exclusively dedicated for Nepalese carpets.
5. Pre-fair marketing activities did not have the desired result. Response from prospective British wholesalers and retailers was very poor.
6. The current trend in British homes is towards hard floor instead of wall to wall carpeting. This will definitely enhance possibilities of sales of throw rugs, which includes Nepalese carpets.
7. The recent colour trend in Britain was observed which is closer to rest of Europe and not similar to North America.
8. Mostly, border design carpets are being sold from Nepal by very few retailers
9. This is due to lack of effective marketing activities by Nepalese carpet entrepreneurs and not using the right channel to market the product.
Recommendations:
1. To create awareness amongst British customer base, establishing Nepalese Carpet show rooms in various important urban centres is essential.
2. Joint efforts by like-minded progressive carpet exporters to open show room in UK will go a long way to once again popularise Nepalese carpets in UK.
3. To form a Carpet Co-operative under the banner of 'Nepal 
could take advantage of the momentum created by the visit of the delegation.
4. This co-operative should engage services of experienced and effective agent in UK for proper display and marketing of Nepalese carpets.
5. The proposed co-operative should be permitted to stock limited quantity of Nepalese carpets made in design and colour combinations specially for British customers in UK on consignment basis. For this prior approval from HMG-Nepal should be obtained.
6. The co-operative should follow the guidelines furnished by the appointed Marketing & Sales Agent/s for at least some span of time in order to make an entry in the market.
7. Permission from HMG-Nepal should also be secured to pay stipulated commission to the appointed Marketing & Sales Agent in UK.
8. The modalities amongst the constituents of the proposed co-operative should be worked out mutually on profit/loss and cost sharing basis.
9. After interviewing a number of prospective Marketing & Sales Agents, have also short-listed one probable Agent willing to represent the proposed co-operative. The services of this Agent could be availed after finalising his terms and conditions of services.
10. BWMB cannot be expected to market Nepalese carpets. This does not confirm to their primary objectives. However, we could take advantage of their contacts for various other factors in UK and elsewhere where British Wool is popular.

NBCCI launches WAP site with ITNTI
Wireless Application Protocol or WAP is now an accepted, open industry standard that allows wireless devices to access information and services on the Internet. And not to remain untouched with the latest technology, NBCCI launched its WAP site: www.bncci.org.np/wap with ITNTI. This is a foremost IT company in Nepal with multinational presence and offering variety of web application services in the country inclouding the first web-paging facilities, online exhibitions and its latest WAP services that it launched in the beginning of the third week during the month of November, 2000.
Highlighting the technology, Mr. Rajendra K. Khetan, President, NBCCI said that mobile phones have become very popular in recent years. Technically speaking, mobile phones are no longer just phones; they are communication devices capable of running applications and communicating with other applications, hardware and almost any electronic equipment over a wireless network. And, we are proud to have such IT companies in Nepal that are adapting the latest technology around the world at a faster pace.
Manish Kansal, Sr. Vice President of ITNTI informed ITNTI has already reached a figure of over forty satisfied clients using their WAP standards and the figure is rapidly increasing as per the growing interests of people from all sectors.