Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Textiles

25-April-2012 12:53 IST

As reported by Exports Promotion Council for Handicrafts and Carpet Export Promotion Council, the export of Handicrafts decreased during 2008-09. Thereafter, the exports have shown increasing trend. 

The details of exports of handicrafts and handmade carpets & other floor coverings during 2008-09 to 2011-12 are given below:

 (Value in Rs. Crores)

The export of Handicrafts as well as handmade carpets & other floor coverings had declined due to the global recession in 2008-09.

The Government of India has taken the following steps to boost the exports of Indian handicrafts including handmade carpets and other floor coverings:

• Participations in fairs/exhibitions abroad.
• Thematic display and live demonstration of crafts in exhibitions abroad.
• Organizing buyer-seller meets in India and abroad.
• Brand image promotion of Indian handicrafts including handmade carpets & other floor coverings abroad through seminars, publicity and awareness programmes about technology, packaging, policies etc.
• Organizing Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair twice a year besides product specific shows.
• Providing participations under assistance of MDA/MAI scheme of the Government of India.
• All Handicrafts Exports are treated as special focus product  and entitled to higher incentives. 
• Interest Subvention of 2% on pre-shipment & post shipment export credit is provided.
• The Government also helps the handicraft sector by way of implementation of six generic Schemes viz. (i) Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana (AHVY); (ii) Design and Technological Up-gradation; (iii) Marketing Support & Services; (iv) Research and Development; (v) Human Resource Development and (vi) Comprehensive Welfare Scheme for Handicrafts Artisans.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Textiles, Smt. Panabaaka Lakshmi  in a written reply in the Rajya  Sabha today.

DS/GK

Export incentives for handicrafts boost market access through special focus status, interest subvention and promotional support. To boost competitiveness and market access for Indian handicrafts and handmade carpets, the Government of India implements promotional and support measures: participation in international fairs and themed displays, buyer-seller meets, brand-promotion and publicity campaigns, biannual national fairs and product-specific shows, and assistance under MDA/MAI schemes. All handicraft exports are designated as special focus product with enhanced incentives and receive a 2% interest subvention on pre-shipment and post-shipment export credit, supplemented by six sectoral schemes for design upgradation, marketing, R&D, HR development and artisan welfare.