Indian Handicrafts Exports & Industry
Bharat Udaan Mission (Export Import Academy)
MD at Atlantico International & Bharat Udaan Mission ( #Export #import Training Academy),15K+ Connections
Introduction
The handicrafts sector is important for the Indian economy as it is one of the largest employment generators and accounts for a significant share in the country’s exports. The state and regional clusters contribute significantly to handicrafts export. The Indian handicrafts industry is fragmented, with more than seven million regional artisans and more than 67,000 exporters/export houses promoting regional art and craftsmanship in the domestic and global markets.
KEY MARKETS AND EXPORT DESTINATIONS
- Handicraft exports from India increased by 1.65 per cent year-on-year during April-November 2018 to US$ 2.42 billion. During this period, the exports of various segments registered positive growth like Shawls as Artwares (77.50 per cent), Woodwares (23.57 per cent), and Miscellaneous Handicrafts (19.74 per cent).
- Indian handicrafts are exported across geographies, with the top 10 destinations being the US, the UK, the UAE, Germany, France, Latin American countries (LAC), Italy, the Netherlands, Canada and Australia.
Recent Developments
Government of India increased incentive rates under the Merchandise Export from India scheme (MEIS) to 7 per cent from 5 per cent for handicraft items which will help exporters to recover the input costs which are involved in the production of handicrafts, which will also lead in competitive pricing and also boost exports.
EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL FOR HANDICRAFTS
The EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL FOR HANDICRAFTS (EPCH) is the apex government body and operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. EPCH has the distinction of being considered a ‘model council’, a self-sustaining body that self-finances all its promotional activities.