India extends to global markets with its traditional handicrafts
Story and photos by Chhay Sophal
Delhi-NCR (18 Feb 2014): With millions of people getting employment in traditional handicraft sector, the Indian government has a huge ambition to attract the world markets to use its craft products.
Zohra Chatterji, India’s Secretary of Ministry of Textiles, said India is really seeking to extend its handicrafts in both regional and international markets so that it can improve ‘livelihood” over 7 million craft persons, including a larger number of women and people belonging to weaker section
Speaking to a four-day long ‘Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair for 2014’ started Monday and joined by Colombian First Lady Maria Clemencia Rodriguez De Santos, Zohra said the Fair would provide “a single window for the entire spectrum of India’s handicrafts to buyer and exporters from all over the world”.
“I am confident that this four-day event will further enhance the popularity and awareness of Indian handicrafts in the global markets and augment growth rate of export from the handicraft sector…,” she said.
The event known as the “37th Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair 2014” has brought over 2,650 exhibitors, including 900 permanent marts, drawn from various regions and states of India displaying a very wide variety of handicrafts. The major product categories are Houseware, Home textiles, Furniture, Cane and Bamboo, X-Mas decorations, Fashion Jewellery and Lamp & Lighting. Lace craft from Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh will also be on display.
Despite the existence of production base and a large number of craftspeople, India has not been able to encash existing opportunity.
While China, South Korea, Thailand, and other nations are being the main competitors for the products in the world markets, the Indian craft persons — the backbones of the country’s Handicraft Industry — need and institutional support at their places.
With the changing world scenario for craft products, Indian Handicraft Industry needs to “go into the details of changing designs, patterns, product development, innovations and requisite change in production facilities for a variety of materials, production techniques, and related expertise to achieves a leadership position in the last growing competitiveness with other countries”, according to an overview report of India’s Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts distributed at the event,.
However, the exports have been increased since 2010. Based on the Review Export on handicrafts, the report indicates that during April 2013 – January 2014, the handicraft exports have shown an increase of US$478.07 million or 20.72% if compared with the similar period: April 2012 – January 2013.
While the world markets are on the targets for its products, India never forgets the consumers in the 10 countries in the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) – Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – Zohra told reporters at the IHGF.
