Handicraft exports to rise by 15-20% this fiscal

The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) expects handicraft exports to rise by 15-20 per cent during the current financial year.

Speaking to Business Standard, P Subramanian, convener of the southern region of EPCH, said that the exports from the country between April and August registered a growth of around 10 per cent as compared to the sales during the same period last fiscal.

"For the financial year ended March 31, 2004, the handicraft exports from the country were Rs 10,465 crore and this year they are expected to go up by 15-20 per cent during this fiscal," he said.

He was in the city to participate in the one-day workshop for handicraft exporters held on Wednesday. According to him, the US accounts for around 31 per cent of the exports valued at Rs 3,200 crore, followed by the United Kingdom which accounts for 11 per cent of the exports valued at Rs 1,130 crore. France and Germany account for exports valued at Rs 968 crore and Rs 483 crore respectively.

Though the all-India figures were satisfactory, the contribution from the southern region was below the average.

"The four southern states contributed only eight per cent to the total exports which comes to around Rs 850 crore. The exports from Andhra Pradesh were around Rs 425 crore, accounting for 50 per cent of the exports from the southern region,"he said.

He said that during the current financial year the exports from the southern regions were expected to go up as more and more exporters from the region were were taking part in the overseas trade fairs to secure orders.

As on March 31, 2004, EPCH had 6,787 member-exporters in the entire country, out of which there were around 600 exporters from the south. There are around 90 EPCH members in Andhra Pradesh. "We expect the number of exporters to cross 7,000 by the end of the current financial year," he said.

"Embroided crocheted items is the most popular export items followed by art metal ware and then hand printed textiles and scarves. Contrary to the general perception wood crafted are not the most popular export items and are fourth in the list," he said.

According to Subramanian, EPCH is seeking flexible labour laws for the handicraft sector.

"The council also urged the various state governments to create a separate department for export promotions," he said.