Marginal growth in handicraft exports in 2009-10

Although the handicraft export sector turned positive in September 2009 after suffering the adverse effect of the global economic slowdown for more than a year, the sector has failed to record an impressive export growth in 2009-10.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Panabaaka Lakshmi, minister of state for textiles, said, "There has been only a marginal increase of 3.05% in the export of handicrafts, including hand-knotted carpets in 2009-10, which can be blamed on the lower sales in chief export markets due to the global demand slump for most part of the previous financial year."

Ms Lakshmi also highlighted the various measures undertaken so far to help SME handicraft export units such as extension of financial assistance and support provided to help exporters participate in fairs and exhibitions abroad, among others. Emphasis was also laid on government efforts to conduct buyer-seller meets in order to uplift the brand image of Indian handicrafts in overseas markets.

"Efforts made by the government to support both handicrafts and handloom sector in the form of financial aid as well as by providing export promotion schemes are laudable. These steps have certainly provided a boost to small-scale export units to increase their volumes," said Manoj Agarwala, proprietor of Jindal Crafts, a small-sized handicrafts supplier in Faridabad.

The government is also organising thematic exhibitions and programmes for packaging and export procedures in order to give a push to handicraft export volumes.

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