Handicraft exports grow by 33% in Sept

Handicraft exports grew by 33 per cent to $62.48 million (around Rs 275 crore) in September on increasing demand in the US, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts said today.

The exports in September 2009 were at $46.87 million (around Rs 205 crore).

The council said that the industry is hopeful of achieving the export target of $2.2 billion for the current financial year.

"We are hopeful that we will achieve our target as so far our performance has been good," EPCH Chairman Raj Malhotra told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.

Incentives provided by Commerce Minister Anand Sharma during the Foreign Trade Policy (2009-14) review also helped in increasing the exports.

In 2008-09, handicrafts shipments which includes metalwares, wood wares, imitation jewellery and zari goods, were at $1.83 billion.

In the first half of 2010-11, the sector's export has shown an increase of 22 per cent at $1.02 billion. The US and EU together account for 70 per cent of the country's handicraft exports.

Moradabad, Jaipur, Saharanpur and Jodhpur are the major handicraft hubs catering to global markets. The sector employs about 10 lakh people.