India's handicrafts exports increased by 18% to $1.8 billion in the first 10 months (April-January) of the current fiscal over a year-ago period, Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran today said.
"The export of Indian handicrafts stood at $2.5 billion in the last fiscal. But I think there is much more we can do," he said at the international jewellery summit and exhibition titled 'Abhushan' here.
The US and the EU together account for 70% of the country's handicrafts exports. The sector employs about 10 lakh people.
The summit, which started today, is organised by the World Crafts Council and facilitated by the Crafts Council of India and Delhi Crafts Council.
The theme of the summit is jewellery made from unconventional, eco-friendly material such as terracotta, wires, natural fibre, beads and recycled material.
Over 200 participants comprising designers, craftspersons and exporters would showcase their items like necklaces, earings and rings made of silver, paper and wood, during the three-day event.
"I am sure this will expose the participating craftspersons to advanced and new technologies which would improve their competitiveness in national and international markets. It would also make them adapt and diversify their products for today's competitive markets," Maran said.
Abhushan Chairperson Nina Kothari said the programme aims at creating an interactive moment when traditional, Indian craftspersons and experts would join their creative heads to analyse and apply a range of international design concepts taking the traditional form to a new and wearable realm.
The workshop would be conducted by leading jewellery designers drawn from the five WCC regions of North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific Region and Africa.
