“Distributing
the Ship Guru Awards and National Awards to master craft-persons and
master weavers in Delhi, Maran said that during April-July 2010 period,
exports of textiles and clothing products, including handicrafts,
increased by 11.5 per cent to $7.57 billion from the $6.79 billion in
the same period last fiscal, as per official estimates. ..About
the contribution of the handicraft and handloom sectors to economic
growth, he said these sectors have enormous potential to provide gainful
employment to a large number of crafts-persons and earn valuable
foreign exchange through exports. Both the sectors together provide
livelihood to 12 million people and generate foreign exchange worth more
than Rs.10,000 crore for the country. ..Maran said marketing is
key to promoting handicraft and handloom items and the sectors need
adequate marketing facilities.In the first seven months of the current
fiscal, handicraft exports increased by 24 per cent to $1.07 billion
from the $864 million in the corresponding period of 2009-0, mainly due
to a rise in demand from the US market. ..On the other hand,
handloom exports during Apr-July were $116.76 million from the $71.65
million during the corresponding period of last year, denoting an
increase of 63%”
Date:11/28/2010
Source:Al Masaa Newspaper