KASHIRAM RANA LOUDS ROLE OF EPCH
The Government will
always be one step ahead in providing conducive environment for
the handicrafts exporters . This was stated by the Union Minister
for Textiles, Shri Kashiram Rana here today while inaugurating
the new office of the Export Promotion Council of Handicrafts
(EPCH). The minister of State for Textiles, Shri Basanagouda R.
Patil, Chairman of EPCH Shri Kamal Chander Agarwal, Secretary,
Textiles, Shri S.B.Mahapatra and other senior officials were also
present on the occasion.
Highlighting the tremendous
support given to exporters by the EPCH, he said that India’s handicrafts
exports has reached an all time high figure of Rs. 6768.50 crore
in 2001-2002, a 17 fold increase from Rs. 387 crore in 1986-87
when the EPCH was first set up.
He appreciated the
Council’s efforts in maximising handicrafts exports and hoped
that the country would continue to establish new records. Since
the small-scale sector contributed 50 per cent to the export basket,
Government had given special relaxation for entitlement of benefits
under various export promotion schemes to handicraft and cottage
sector. The recently announced EXIM policy has recognised schemes
like Market Access Initiative (MAI) and relaxed eligibility conditions
for EPCG.
The Minister noted
that the handicraft export had witnessed a constant average growth
of 15% in the last decade, except last year when there was a global
trade slump and the WTC attacks that affected US economy. US have
been the largest import markets for the Indian handicrafts. He
said - " I am sure that the target set for handicrafts export
for year 2002-2003 at 1600 million US $(about Rs. 7680 crore)
shall be achieved."
Shri Basanagouda R.
Patil was happy to observe that the council was planning to open
ware houses in USA and Europe. "Foreign exchange is the life-line
of any economy. The handicraft exports is contributing about three
per cent of the Nation’s export", Shri Patil said.
Built at a cost of
Rs. 5 crore and sprawling over an area of 6000 sq.ft. EPCH House
is an ultra modern office fitted with the latest equipment that
will help exporters network with the rest of the world to earn
more valuable foreign exchange for the country.
