PHENOMENAL GROWTH IN INDIAN HANDMADE
PAPER EXPORT
There has been phenomenal
growth in the export market for Indian Handmade Paper and its
products, especially in the developed countries like the United
States of America, European countries, Australia etc. This was
stated by the Minister of State for Agro & Rural Industries,
Shri Sangh Priya Gautam while addressing the Buyer-Seller Meet
on Handmade Paper at the ‘Paperex-2003’, here today. The Minister
said that the export of Handmade Paper and paper products is estimated
around Rs. 50 crores and may increase in multiples in the coming
years. The last decade witnessed rapid growth in export as a number
of Handmade Paper and paper products manufacturing units have
become hundred per cent export oriented units and helped in increasing
the foreign exchange of the country, he said.
Handmade Paper is
one of the major rural village industries under the purview of
KVIC. It is one of the most employment-generating programmes using
cotton rags as raw material and paper waste, which is eco-friendly
in nature. There are around 3800 handmade paper units which include
conversion units, papier mache and manufacturing units having
a production of Rs. 128 crores and providing employment of 28,000
rural artisans. In the era of globalisation, handmade paper is
one of the prime sectors, which has a major say.
An International
Exhibition on Pulp and Paper and allied products, under the name
of ‘Paperex’, is being held from 5th to 8th
December 2003 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. This Buyer-Seller
Meet on Handmade Paper as a part of the Paperex-2003, is conducted
with a view to boost export and domestic market of Handmade paper
and its products, which are being produced and marketed by village
entrepreneurs/artisans/institutions.
The Minister appreciated
KVIC and UNDP for organising these kinds of domestic fairs on
Handmade Paper which help in generating significant trade enquiries
and helped to spread the awareness about the green and clean environment.
Present on the occasion among others were Dr. Maxine Olson, Resident
Representative, UNDP and Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Chairman, KVIC.
