Handicrafts exports increased 11% in 6 months
FINANCIAL EXPRESS
New Delhi:18 October '06
With exports picking up, things are looking up in the Indian Handicrafts sector. Exports of Handicrafts increased by 10.9% in the first 6 months of the current fiscal over the comparable period of the previous fiscal. the sector is consider to have high potential for export earnings and negligible import content.
With around 8000 buyers from around thw world at a recent five-day long textile ministry sponsored handicrafts and gift fairs held recently, Indian Handicrafts prooved their potential.
"The fair has generated export business amounting to Rs. 1700 crore,".said Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).
The fair had more than 1800 exhibitors drawn from all over India showcasing more than 800 product lines. The Handicraft sector is one of the threst areas of the government as it provides employment to over 60 lakh artisans which include a large number of women and people belong to the lower starta of the society.
In addition to that, the sector is economically important due to its low capital investment and high ratio of value addition.
The sector is coming up as a source of foreign exchange earnings, as it is gradually increasing its share in the country's total exports.The share of handicrafts in India's total exports has increased from 2.19% in 1990-91 to 3.19% in 2005-06.
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