Exports of handicraft items up despite fall in overall data

Top Stories

»	49% Indian startups now from tier 2, 3 cities: Jitendra Singh
»	'India ranks 3rd in global startup ecosystem & number of unicorns'
»	Tripura exported over 9K tonnes of pineapples in 2 years
»	CPI inflation eases to 6.71% in July, IIP falls to 12.3%
»	Rupee depreciates 12 paise to close at 79.64 against US dollar

Saurabh Gupta | 18 Feb, 2016
Despite slowdown in overall exports from India, the exports from handicraft sector has shown a positive sign with a marginal growth of 3.28 percent during April-January 2015-16 over the similar period in 2014-15, nodal agency for promotion and development of handicrafts - Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) informed on Thursday.

"The exports of handicrafts in the first 10 months of current fiscal was Rs. 17254.45 crores (2015-16) against Rs. 15650.30 crores in the preceding period of 2014-15, thereby showing growth of 10.25 percent in rupee terms and 3.28 percent in dollars terms," Executive Director-EPCH, Rakesh Kumar told SME Times at a press conference in New Delhi.

He said, "The handicraft exports is set to achieve its target of Rs. 20.368 crores (US$ 3233 million) for the year 2015-16 despite the decline in many sectors of merchandise exports from India."

In the first 10 months (April-January) of this fiscal (2015-16), cumulative export value plunged 17.7 percent in dollar and 12 percent in rupee to USD .2,17,680 million (Rs.14,15,061 crore) from USD 2,64,323 million (Rs.16,09,886 crore) in like period year ago.

"In order to improve exports of handicrafts from India the council has started the Indian Handicrafts & Gifts fair (IHGF) and IHGF-Spring is a part of it," said S P Dadu, Chairman of IHGF-Spring 2016.

IHGF has also played a vital role in diversifying exports of handicrafts, increasing production base in the country, improving quality, design, products and thereby ultimately leading to growth of exports of handicrafts. With regard to business generated during IHGF when it was started in 1994, it was merely Rs 80 crores and by the time it reached its 40th edition in October, 2015, it was Rs. 2700 crores.

He said, all India Exports of handicrafts which were to the tune of Rs. 2520 crores 1994 when IHGF was set up now amounts to Rs. 18,639.14 crores in 2014-15. This is a great indicator of the positive contribution made upto 40th edition of IHGF-Delhi Autumn 2015 held so far.

The Indian Handicrafts & Gifts fair (Spring) which started way back in 1994 by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts [EPCH] has entered its 41st edition.

The IHGF-DELHI FAIR SPRING will be held from 20 - 23 February, 2016 at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida in a total area of 190000 with more than 2820 exhibitors including permanent marts , 2000+ products in 14 product categories, 300+ trend specific design developments.

Secretary (Textiles), Ministry of Textiles, Rashmi Verma will be inaugurating the fair on 20th February, 2016 at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida.

The fair was conceptualized with the sole intention of providing a platform to handicrafts producers, manufacturers and exporters to export their products to the foreign buyers.

The show has become "One stop Sourcing destination" for major International brands Bloomingdales, Macy, K-Mart, Wall Mart, Pier 1, Mark and Spencers, Woolworth, Karstadt, Peek and Cloppen Berg, Carrefour, hobby lobby and many more further said Kumar.

The 41st edition will have special highlights of series of seminars, ramp shows, live crafts demonstration, cultural shows elaborated, setting up of e-hubs and visit of domestic retail volume buyers.

Based on the indication received so far EPCH is expecting more than 5000 overseas volume buyers from departmental/chain stores, wholesaler, distributors and major International brands. The volume buyers will not only from existing markets of handicrafts in American and European continents but also from the emerging markets in the Asian continent like China, South East Asia, Central Asia Region and Africa and Latin American region.

"IHGF-Delhi Fair Spring 2016 is expected to generate huge amount of enquiries and orders," added Kumar.