The state-owned Salt Trading Corporation (STC) Limited has begun selling domestically produced Baltra brand home and kitchen appliances, as well as various Nepali brand shoes. STC has started selling shoes from Nepali brands such as BF Sports, Smart Shoes, Run Shoes, and Shoes Land.
STC started selling these items through its various sales centers to support the "Make in Nepal" campaign launched by the government two years ago.
Brajesh Kumar Jha, the departmental head of STC said that under this campaign, they have introduced a 200-watt induction stove from the Baltra brand, a 5-liter pressure cooker compatible with the stove, a 24-inch frying pan, a 26-inch frying pan, and an 18-inch saucepan as well as tea-making pot. "Similarly, the sale of four different Nepali shoe brands has been initiated," he added.
According to Jha, STC began selling these items with the aim of promoting Nepali brands. The company expects this campaign to benefit both producers and consumers of these products.
STC started selling these items in various districts of Lumbini, Gandaki, and Sudurpaschim provinces, as well as the Kathmandu Valley. Currently, these products are available in 12 locations within the valley, including the central office at Kalimati, as well as Satungal, Balaju, Gaushala, Kapan, Kaushaltar, Koteshwar, Jawalakhel, and Swayambhu. Outside the valley, sales have started in Baglung, Nepalgunj, Surkhet, and Dhangadhi. Sale of shoes is conducted from the STC offices at Kalimati and Jadibuti. The state-owned company is offering discounts of 10 to 50 percent on all shoe brands, targeting the upcoming festive season. STC plans to gradually expand this initiative nationwide.
"Currently, most people are using imported LP gas for cooking, which results in Nepali money flowing abroad and an increasing trade deficit. Our main objective is to promote the use of induction stoves produced in Nepal, increase electricity consumption, and reduce LP gas imports," said Jha.
STC believes that using induction stoves will also lower kitchen expenses for consumers. The price of one LP gas cylinder is Rs 1,910. If a family uses one cylinder per month, they will spend Rs 1,910 monthly on cooking fuel. However, STC estimates that using an induction stove can reduce this cost by Rs 1,000. The Salt Trading Corporation is offering a combo set of kitchen utensils with an induction stove for just Rs 9,500, making it affordable even for those with limited financial means.
STC has also launched a discount shop for the festive season. The state-owned company, which offers services through mobile vans, is providing discounts of Rs 5 on sugar, Rs 2 on salt, and Rs 7 on cooking oil, rice, beaten rice (chiura), and flour. The company aims to sell 50,000 quintals of food items, including pulses, rice, and indigenous products from Karnali. Discounts of Rs 5 per kilogram are available on various types of rice and pulses, and Rs 7 per kilogram on oil, pulses, flour, beaten rice, sugar, and a range of traditional Karnali products such as phapar (buckwheat) and millet.
