Exports of lace and lace goods from the International Lace Trade Center (ILTC) here are expected to grow from Rs 60 crore to Rs 500 crore in the next five years, a senior official said today.
"The objective of setting up International Lace Trade Center (ILTC) at Narsapur is to enhance the exports of lace and lace products. We foresee exports of Rs 300 crore in the next three years and Rs 500 crore in the next five years," Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) Executive Director Rakesh Kumar said.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet (RBSM) that began at ILTC here, Kumar said keeping in view the export potential of the region, Narsapur has been identified as a 'mega cluster' under the Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS).
"The region of Narsapur covers districts of West Godavari and East Godavari. It has the largest concentration of crochet lace artisans in the world with over 1 lakh home-based women lace makers.
"Over 80 per cent of the total production of lace goods is exported to the major markets of US, Europe and Japan. The range of products exported from the region include home furnishings and allied articles like table covers, table mats and napkins, cushion covers, bed spreads, garments and accessories," he said.
As part of skill development and upgradation, the EPCH has initiated skilling of over 5,000 individuals in West Godavari and East Godavari districts, he said.
"The skill training is based on National Occupational Standards (NOS) for lace making, furnishings, tailoring and apparels developed for lace and lace crafts.
"Over 3,000 artisans have been trained so far in 76 batches under the monitoring committee, which has been set up exclusively to see that the programs meet the standards, and assess their impact on the craftsmen's skilling," Kumar said.
K Gopal, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), who earlier inaugurated the meet, said the country's handicraft exports are expected to cross Rs 20,000 crore by the end of the current fiscal.
In the last fiscal, the exports stood at Rs 18,500 crore, he said.
"The objective of the ILTC is also to generate additional livelihood opportunities to ensure sustained increase in the income and standard of living of the artisans, besides help to provide critical production and commercial infrastructure, technology, marketing support, capacity-building and product diversification," Kumar said.
The meet has been organized at ILTC to promote the products of Narsapur and provide a marketing platform to over 54 manufacturers of lace and lace products.
