India's handicraft exports grow over 8% in 2015-16

The Dollar Business Bureau

India's handicraft exports increased by over 8% to nearly Rs 31,000 crore in 2015-16, Textiles Minister Smriti Irani informed in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

"According to the provisional data available, the exports of handicrafts have shown an increase of Rs.2,414.79 crore from Rs.28,524.48 crore to Rs.30,939.27 crore -- an increase of 8.46% in rupees term in 2015-16 as compared to previous year," Irani said.

Resending to queries, the newly-elected textile minister said the government has received a proposal from export promotion council for handicrafts for the establishment of an e-marketing platform as part of marketing support and service scheme. The platform is aimed at facilitating buyers and sellers to procure/sell as well as promote product categories in both domestic and international markets online.

Irani also informed that the Central Cottage Industries Corporation (CCIC) and the Handloom and Handicrafts Export Corporation (HHEC) have initiated digital marketing.

Various state-led handicrafts corporations are already selling their brands through digital marketing.

The ministry said the government is contemplating to establish a voluntary scheme to render authenticity and quality to the handicrafts products with an aim to differentiate genuine and environmentally-compliant handicraft products.

To promote and develop this sector, the textile ministry is planning to implement several schemes with cluster and mega cluster-level approach.

Irani said the government has asked the Textiles Committee to evolve a rating scheme to standardise handmade carpet manufacturing units.