October 20: The annual crafts festival started yesterday at the clock tower here in the capital. The festival was inaugurated by Her Majesty Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck.

Also present were the Prime Minister, senior government officials, and officials from bi-lateral and international agencies and non-government agencies.

Speaking at the ceremony, the resident coordinator of the United Nations system in Bhutan Mr. Nicholas Rossellini said the potential to employ cultural resources as an engine of more inclusive growth to improve the lives of rural communities is enormous.

He said Her Majesty’s tireless effort and support towards creatively utilizing a resource that has been often overlooked in the field of development, that is, traditional and indigenous skills and knowledge of communities, is truly commendable.

The festival features handicrafts from different parts of the country.

Singye Dorji the director of the textile museum said the participants have been selected from various parts of the kingdom and the festival allows them to market their products on a greater scale.

Non government organizations including Tarayana, RENEW and DrakTsho are also participating in the festival.

The festival will carry on till the 25th of October.