Question : Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts

(a) the plan chalked out by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts to promote export and branding of handicraft products across the world and in the country, State-wise including Rajasthan;.

(b) the total number of institutions and artisans linked to Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts in the country, State-wise including Rajasthan;

(c) the total funds allocated and spent on organising fair, exhibitions, seminars to promote exports during the last three years;

(d) whether the contribution of India in global handicraft export market is only five per cent; and

(e) if so, the plan of Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts to enhance the export contribution in global market?

MINISTER OF TEXTILES
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a): Yes Sir, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts has initiated various export promotion programmes on PAN India basis. The brief of the same is as follows:-
i. Marketing support to handicrafts exporter members: To provide marketing support to handicrafts exporters, Indian Handicrafts & Gift Fair (IHGF) is organized twice a year (autumn and spring editions). The state-wise participation in last two handicrafts fairs is at Annexure-A. In addition to this EPCH also participates in more than 21 international fairs/exhibition at United States of America (USA), Europe, Latin America & Caribbean Countries (LAC), Common Wealth of Independent States(CIS), Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and China along with Exporter Members.
ii. Seminars and workshops: To create an environment of awareness amongst member exporter, various Seminar/ Workshops on Export Marketing, Procedures and Documentation, Packaging, Quality Compliances, GST, Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), Design Development, Trend & forecast, Open House etc. interaction with Central and State Govt. and various other similar programmes are organized. The state-wise list of seminars and workshops organized in 2018-19 is at Annexure-B.
iii. Publicity and promotion: in order to create awareness and promotion of Indian Handicrafts in overseas markets, vigorous promotion and publicity campaign through print, electronic, web, social media and outdoor are undertaken.
iv. Infrastructure projects: To enhance the capacity of handicrafts manufacturing the following infrastructure project has been completed by EPCH:
• Common Facility Center wood seasoning plant at Saharanpur
• Resource-cum-facilitation Centre at Moradabad
• International Lace Trade Centre at Narsapur
• Handicrafts Productivity Centre and Testing Lab, Jaipur
• Trade Facilitation Centre at Jodhpur
(b): A total of 9407 handicrafts exporters on PAN India basis are registered with the Council. The State-wise list is enclosed at Annexure-C as its members.
(c): The total funds allocated and spent activity-wise during last three years is at Annexure D.
(d): Indian handicrafts share in the global exports of handicrafts is estimated to less than 2% as per the study conducted more than a decade ago.
(e): As replied above at (a). The initiatives undertaken above at (a) by EPCH are to be continued and scaled up with more number of promotional and marketing activities in order to enhance export share in global market.