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