New Delhi (PTI): With fresh enquiries beginning to pour in from the U.S. and E.U., Indian handicrafts exports, one of the worst sufferers of the economic meltdown, is likely to enter the positive terrain in the next two months, giving hope to artisans who had lost their jobs.
After contracting by an alarming rate of 48 per cent in 2008-09, exports of handmade items have shown an improvement in the first month of this fiscal.
"Every day we are getting fresh orders. This is mainly because inventories in the US have started drying up... We are confident that by July-August, we will see a positive growth rate... the growth may not be very huge," Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (ECPH) Chairman R.K. Malhotra told PTI.
He is also confident that the job scenario in the sector, which has witnessed about five lakh retrenchments of its over one-million work force in the last one year, would improve at an equally faster pace.
The EPCH is betting high on the new UPA Government support to the artisans, who contribute to the country's exports from as varied areas as Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh and Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh.
"Infrastructure is one area where we are expecting the Government to pay special attention," Mr. Malhotra said.
As demand for items like metalware, imitation jewellery, wooden items and wall hangings came down in the recession-hit western stores, their exports from India began contracting. In March alone the dip was a massive 71 per cent, clocking just $1.7 million of sales.
Over 25 per cent of the the total handicrafts exports, mainly from major clusters like Moradabad, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Shararanpur and Narsapur, go to the U.S. Germany contributes 14 per cent while UK accounts for 10 per cent of the exports kitty.
Source : The Hindu