In 1980 UNICEF's executive board proposed the foundation of greeting cards manufacturing project for community development in developing countries. It was further enhanced in Nepal by the His Majesty's Government of Nepal. To improve quality of traditional handicraft goods for developing a growing export market in order to generate employment opportunity and to provide supplementary source of income for people in lower income brackets in rural and urban settings.

UNICEF agreed to implement its Board proposal in Nepal as a model for community development by utilizing raw materials and traditional technology.

Paper making and block printing are major components of cottage industry in Nepal at the establishment period. These activities are extremely old and well established cottage industries in various parts of the country. It is said that art of making paper came to Nepal via Tibet and its use in Nepal started in 11-12th centuries. Until about 1930 handmade paper was the standard paper for used by almost all the people of the country.

Paper making and block printing activities have suffered a sharp decline in the last several years mainly due to changing markets, heavy imports by Tibet. Since 1959, competition from imported machine made paper, and introduction of modern day technology. Recognizing all these factors, UNICEF/Nepal in line with its policy of fulfilling the basic needs of children by enhancing opportunities for women, came forward with a community development through production of greeting cards project to assist communities engaged in paper making and block printing. Since women are active in paper making and play an important role in the whole production process.

In short, the main objective of the project is to promote community development through income generation activities associated with lokta collection, paper making and manufacturing of greeting cards, stationeries and other decorative products for employment opportunity for the largest possible number of poor families. The project has already shown a positive impact on the economic conditions of the lokta cutting paper making and card making families in their income generation.

Bhaktapur Craft Paper Ltd (BCP) was established in 1981 at Bhaktapur Industrial District, Bhaktapur as a Project of UNICEF, Nepal under the bilateral agreement between UNICEF Nepal and Government of Nepal for the improvement of quality of life of low-income urban and rural families through the production of greeting cards. Although BCP was established in 1981, it came in full operation from 1982.

Today a new interest in traditional products has emerged in a public bored with the monotony of industrial goods. Our paper-craft workshop makes quality greeting cards, stationery sets, notebooks, wrapping paper, bags and envelopes that reflect the traditional of an ancient and original culture. In Bhaktapur, the artistic capital of Nepal, new processes have been introduced utilizing natural vegetable dyes and modern designs. The colors and subtle shades obtained, combined with the "archaic" feel of block printing, give a unique mixture of oriental sophistication and medieval Himalayan tradition.

PRESENT BACKGROUND (incorporated into ltd. company)

Since 1995 UNICEF/Nepal has been intend to turning BCP into a registered company in Nepal. In 1998 approval for this strategy was given by the UNICEF Financial Comptroller of New York. It was agreed that once certain conditions were met, UNICEF would handover the assets of the projects to BCP Ltd as a registered company. However this procedure had to be postponed due to the fact that because of a down turns in international market order and financial position. It was neither possible, nor realistic, for BCP to become a viable, independent company at that time.

At present BCP has been incorporated into public limited company and registered in His Majesty Government of Industry Department as Public Limited Company keeping the name "BHAKTAPUR CRAFT PAPER LTD." All the shares of BCP have been distributed equally to all existing permanent staffs.