DEMAND FOR INDIAN HANDICRAFTS

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The assessment of increase in demand of Indian handicrafts items including hand-knotted carpets are periodically made by the Government through Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), and Carpet Export Promotion Council on the basis of export order received by the exporters through participation in various fairs and festivals within the country and abroad as well as on the basis of export data compiled from Foreign Trade Statistics published by Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, Kolkata.

The export of handicrafts including hand-knotted carpets during the year 2000-2001, 2001-02 and 2002-03 has been to the tune of Rs. 9270.50 crore, Rs. 9205.63 crore and Rs. 10933.67 crore respectively. The country wise exports of handicrafts including hand-knotted carpets during 2000-01 and 2001-02 is as follows:

(Rs. In Crore)

1.	Australia	141.37	127.55
2.	Canada	277.12	265.74
3.	France	388.62	369.94
4.	Germany	1309.05	1331.02
5.	Italy	285.91	274.39
6.	Japan	310.40	291.40
7.	Netherland	216.89	204.53
8.	Saudi Arabia	161.30	159.65
9.	Switzerland	126.97	165.12
10.	U.S.A.	3166.85	3189.87
11.	U.K.	875.86	877.34
12.	Other countries	2010.17	1958.08
	Total	9270.50	9205.63

The names of handicrafts items which are in the list of high demand markets are embroidered and crocheted goods, artmetal ware, shawls as artware, handprinted textiles and scarves, zari and zari goods and imitation jewellery etc. No hard data is available on domestic consumption of handicrafts items. However the sub-group on handicrafts of 10^th Five Year Plan has estimated that during the 9^th Plan, the domestic market grew from Rs. 4535.95 crore in the year 1997-98 to Rs. 7069.94 crores in the year 2000-01 showing an increase of 14 per cent.

This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Textiles, Shri Basanagouda R. Patil, in reply to a question by Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in the Lok Sabha today.