HANDICRAFT
EXPORTS LIKELY TO TOUCH US $ 1.6 BILLION IN 2002-2003
Export of handicrafts from India
during the year 2002-03 is likely to touch US $ 1.6 billion ($
1600 million), as targetted. This was indicated by Shri Rajiv
Pratap Rudy, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, at
a Seminar on Exim Policy organised by the Export Promotion Council
for Handicrafts (EPCH) here last evening. The Minister noted that
exports of handicrafts had witnessed a constant average growth
of 15% in the last 10 years, (except last year due to the global
slowdown) and expressed confidence that with measures now being
taken, handicraft exports would go up further in the years to
come. He mentioned that the new Exim Policy had provided a special
thrust to the handicraft sector with a separate chapter for handicrafts
and cottage sector in the Exim Policy.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri S.
B. Mohapatra, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, listed the major
projects being implemented for the upgradation of the Indian handicraft
sector including setting up of National Design Centres at Moradabad
and New Delhi. India’s first state-of-the-art facility for international
marketing of cottage sector was also being set up. Additionally,
an Industrial Park would be set up for handicraft exports at Moradabad
with the help of the Uttar Pradesh Government which would enable
exporters of handicrafts to have better infrastructure. Notification
for acquisition of land for this purpose had also been issued
by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Mohapatra said. Shri
Navratan Samdria suggested that the list of industrial clusters
identified, as towns of export excellence should be expanded to
include at least 10 for the handicraft sector this year and another
10 next year.
Others who spoke on the occasion
were Smt. Tinoo Joshi, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts),
Dr. A.K. Pujari, Additional Director General of Foreign Trade,
Shri Ravi K Passi, past-Chairman, EPCH and Shri Rakesh Kumar,
Executive Director, EPCH.
