Handicraft exports to grow 20 pc

India’s handicraft exports are slated to grow by 20 per cent to Rs 16,000 crore in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, despite economic slowdown in the US and Europe, which together account for 70 per cent of country’s handicraft shipment.

Of course, the government’s policy to diversify exports to new and emerging markets of Africa and  Latin America has also helped. 

Development Commissioner (Handicraft) S S Gupta said the expansion in list of items under government’s focus product scheme which also includes handicraft sector has helped the sector grow and contribute to exports in a bigger way in recent times. The item that saw maximum export growth were wood-ware, about 90 per cent, followed by shawls as art-ware, close to 30 per cent and imitation jewellery, over 22per cent.

In India, handicrafts sector employs over one million people. Moradabad and Saharanpur in UP and  Jaipur and Jodhpur in Rajasthan are major handicraft hubs in the country catering to global markets.