Compared to the previous year's budget speeches, this year saw a different scene. And, the eyes of many fell on it. That was the bag carried by Finance Minister Varshman Pun. This time, Pun carried a different bag than the finance ministers who used to carry the budget speech in a briefcase.

In order to encourage domestic production, Finance Minister Pun had mentioned during the budget speech that the briefcase of the budget-speech was used differently to symbolically show the change. After the finance minister carried indigenous products and different bags, many people got interested in it. The bag was manufactured in the Unique Leathers & nbsp;Handicrafts industry. And the owner of that industry was Navraj-Sangita couple.

Navraj Adhikari of Dhading had been making cashmere, i.e. hand-stitched or embroidered goods, for almost a decade and a half. However, after the effect of Covid-19 ended, they stopped making cashmere goods and started making various bags of Nepali cotton cloth. He started diversifying the production of various bags and purses by using cotton cloth woven in Nepal. Lately, it has also started to become the choice of customers. The official said that

was chosen by the government because of its quality and Nepalese production. "At that time, a team of employees from the Ministry of Finance came to our shop after visiting 10/11 shops," he said. Had it not been of good quality and durability, perhaps it would not have been a choice!'

Navraj Adhikari from Dhading worked in a cashmere leather factory in Thamel since he came to Kathmandu around 2048/49. He started working as a helper in the factory, from operating the machine to designing and cutting patterns. But after 13 thousand rupees per month could only cover the house expenses, he decided to go to Malaysia. The house had a debt of 90,000. 70,000 loan was added to that and went to Malaysia. He returned to Nepal as soon as the loan was paid after three years. He remembers that he dreamed of opening his own factory even while living abroad.

In May 2063, he opened his own factory with a loan of 2 lakhs. "I had the skill to make cashmere goods, I put them to use," said the officer, "I used to make cashmere, i.e. hand-stitched or embroidered goods, and sell them wholesale from the factory." "Even though we wanted to have our own shop in Thamel, we couldn't do it because we had to pay 'salami'," he said, "We kept it after an acquaintance told us not to pay salami." But since it was inside the resort, there was more wholesale business than retail.'

He says that if a product worth one lakh rupees is given during the production of cashmere goods, it will take a year to collect that money. 'It was going on like this, but after the start of Covid-19, I spent almost 3 years at home,' he said, 'while I was staying at home, I had to find and do something new in this area.' . He said that when the businessmen were being displaced due to covid, he took the challenge and started making Nepali cotton goods by removing the cashmere goods. After the impact of covid, the officer started making bags using 'Nepali cotton' in his own design. "Now I design myself, from cutting patterns to sewing, I started working with a challenge," he said, "It feels like success when customers find our products."

has employed 15 people who work directly in the factory. He said that earlier the factory was in a rented house, but now the factory has been moved to his own house in Nepaltar. He said that since the shutters were empty in Thamel after Corona and there was no need to pay salami, separate shutters were taken for retail trade. Officials said that around Rs 1 crore has been invested in factories and shops.

Thamel's shop is run by Mrs. Sangeeta, it is registered in her name, he said, "I was in the factory since before, I still look at it now."

The bags produced by Unique Leather use a lot of 'Nepali cloth cotton'. He has used cotton fabric and leather made in Nepal in an attractive way. "We get the raw materials we need from the local market," said the officer, "we make not only cotton cloth, but also hemp bags if we receive an order." But he understands that some businessmen sell cotton bags as hemp.

Unique Leathers Handicraft makes goods by keeping 'Unique Leather Made in Nepal' logo for them, 'Prakriti logo' for Bhatbhateni, 'Sana' logo for small handicrafts in Kupandol. For 'Rolo', which sells goods online, they also sell bags with the 'Rolo' logo. However, the official also said that some traders buy unique leather goods and sell them as their own. "Some people sell bags and bags made by me with a hemp logo," he said He said that foreigners are also seen. We have brought more than 100 designer bags and bags only after Corona. We will work more on existing designs and bring them to the market," he said.

There are many problems with the ribbons of bags made in Nepal. We have strengthened it by doing a lot of work on the part where it deteriorates quickly. We are focused on making products that are strong, attractive and that customers will like,' said the official, 'some people do not believe that they are made in Nepal, even if they are made by themselves.' "He doesn't work hard but tries to steal from others, steal as long as he can," he said, "I work on new designs and bring them to the market." He said that his bags are reaching countries such as America, Japan, and Turkey through his friends who are doing business abroad.