Handicrafts exports to grow by 10% - EPCH Chairman.

Handicrafts exports registered an increase of 6.55 per cent at Rs 8,718.94 crore during 2009-10 up by Rs 538.28 crore as against Rs 8,183 crore in 2008-09 in rupee terms and registered a growth of 1.80 per cent in dollar terms at 1,830.23 million dollar during the year up by 32.35 million dollars compared to last year, according to the provisional export data released by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts.

According to Mr. Raj Kumar Malhotra, Chairman-EPCH, exports of handicrafts, in the past have been showing a consistent growth in exports till the year 2006-07. On an average exports have been rising at the rate of 10% per annum till 2006-07. However, due to recession in the world market, exports of handicrafts had fallen considerably.

As against Rs. 17,288 crore in 2006-07, the exports came down to Rs. 14,012 crore in 2007-08 and further to Rs. 8,183 crore in 2008-09.

The Government had to take corrective and supportive action to check the decline in exports by announcing various schemes and support systems for exporters so that exporters can withstand the fierce competition in the world market arising out of economic down turn. As a result, the exports started picketing up in the subsequent year viz. 2009-10, Mr. Malhotra added.

Increase in exports of handicrafts has been in nearly all the products categories. In some categories, it was less and in some it was more said Mr. Malhotra. Highest increase in Rupee terms was recorded in exports of imitation Jewellery showing a growth of 18.03%, followed by woodwares 15.17%, Shawls as artwares 10.64%, Embroidery and crocheted goods 6.12%, Zari and zari goods 5.61%, hand printed textiles and scarves 5.60% artmetalware 4.88%. and Miscellaneous handicrafts 4.74%. In Dollar terms, the maximum increase was recorded again by imitation Jewellery 12.76%, followed by woodenwares 10.01%, Shawls as artware 5.73%, Embroidered and crocheted goods 1.39%, Zari & zari goods 0.91%, hand printed textiles and scarves 0.38%, artmetalware 0.21%, miscellaneous handicrafts 0.07%.

European Union has been the largest market for Indian exporters during the year 2009-10 taking 40.33% share of India’s total exports of handicrafts to various regions. Within the European Union, UK registered itself as the largest buyer buying Rs. 928 crores worth of goods from India in 2009-10 against Rs. 863 crores in the previous year. The second largest buyer was Germany purchasing Indian goods worth Rs. 783 crores in 2009-10 against Rs. 744 cores in the previous year. France was the next market where exports amounted to Rs. 387 crores in 2009-10, as against Rs. 362 crores in the previous year. Spain purchased goods worth Rs. 255 crores in 2009-10 as against the Rs. 240 crores in the previous year. Netherlands was again a big buyer purchasing goods worth Rs.249 crores in 2009-10 as compared with Rs. 232 crores in the previous year, Belgium purchased goods of worth Rs. 151 crores in 2009-10 as against Rs 144 crores in the previous year.

Source : fibre2fashion.com