Spaces_is 9

CRAFT
private individual patronage, the company
has been assisted by World Neighbours
(1984-1989), ATI (1984-65), PACT (1984-
85), Ford Foundation (1990), Asia
Foundation (1992) and Bread for the
World (1990, 1993).
Today ACP has about 160 employees in
its head office in Rabi Bhawan, of which
around 60 are in management positions
while 90 are producers. Including this, the
company provides employment to about
1200 people nationwide and when we say
nationwide we mean nationwide. The
geographical distribution of ACP
production areas in Nepal stretches from
Kailali in the far west to Sankhuwasabha
in the far east. In between, ACP producers
are active in Nepalganj, Baglung, Palpa,
Pokhara, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur,
Sindhulpalchok, Barahbise, Janakpur,
Tehrathum amd Dhankuta.
Meera Bhattarai sounds really proud when
declaring, “We are a socially oriented,
commercially viable enterprise.” She
credits much of the company’s success to
the establishment of an excellent
WITH SO MUCH ON ITS PLATE, AND WITH ITS
EXCELLENT TECHNICAL AND MARKETING NETWORK,
ACP CAN RIGHTLY CLAIM TO BE THE PREMIER CRAFT
ASSOCIATION IN THE COUNTRY.
Top: Jute and clay complement each
other marvellously.
Above: These sturdy wooden sanduks are
as useful as they are good to look at.
organization where different departments
have been endowed with a good degree
of autonomy and where management is
well trained and experienced. As for her
own role she informs, “My role is that of
a liaison between the board and the
management.” One of ACP’s main goals
is to develop producers’ skills so that more
income is assured. Besides skill
enhancement, ACP provides financial
support, raw materials and of course, a
worldwide market for its producers.
Today, the ACP headquarters in Rabi
Bhawan is being rapidly expanded, with the
addition of many more workshops and
packing halls. A lot of new and still
unpacked machinery can be seen lying
around on its grounds, waiting to be
installed. As Meera says, “You can say that
ACP is still in the growing phase. In fact,
the company has gone through different
phases since its inception. For instance,
after the turning point phase in 1987, we
have passed the management and
50 MAR-APR 2006 SPACES