27th Flora Expo concludes with over Rs 12m in transactions

KATHMANDU: The 27th Flora Expo concluded on Sunday at the Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Hall. The Floriculture Association Nepal (FAN), organiser of the expo, reported transactions of Rs 12.26 million and a cumulative attendance of 60,700 visitors over four days.

Held from March 19 to 22 under the slogan ‘Floriculture for a Clean Environment, Employment, and Economic Prosperity’, the fair drew strong public interest from the opening day. Expo Coordinator and FAN Senior Vice-President Ram Bahadur Tamang (Sunil) said the event saw significant visitor participation and increased business activity throughout the four days.

According to FAN Treasurer Raj Krishna Bajgain, 9,500 visitors and Rs 2.15 million in transactions were recorded on the first day; 17,500 visitors and Rs 2.95 million on the second; 21,500 visitors and Rs 3.98 million on the third; and 12,200 visitors with Rs 3.18 million in turnover on the final day.

The expo featured 83 stalls in total — 65 commercial, 11 official, 2 competitive, 2 food, 1 landscape and 1 selfie stall — and included a BYD electric vehicle display. FAN Vice-President Tamang said participating entrepreneurs entered flowers and plants they produced into various competitive categories during the exhibition.

Meanwhile, FAN officials highlighted the wider state of Nepal’s floriculture sector. The industry currently spans 270 hectares across 52 districts, with investments exceeding Rs 8.83 billion, and provides direct and indirect employment to more than 53,500 people.

However, officials said weak economic conditions and policy challenges have constrained growth: the sector’s annual turnover for current fiscal year 2025/26 is estimated at Rs 3.37 billion, down from Rs 3.68 billion the previous year.

Despite the overall decline in turnover, FAN President Rajesh Bhakta Shrestha pointed to a sharp reduction in imports and a rise in exports as positive signs. Department of Customs data cited by FAN show imports of floriculture products fell by 54.27% from Rs 277.9 million last year to Rs 127 million this year, while exports grew by 109.16% to Rs 21.3 million.

Shrestha said the four-day expo concluded with “enthusiastic participation and positive economic signals for the industry.”