Tripura: Thailand, Bhutan to set up handicraft biz

Agartala, May 11: Two separate business delegations from Thailand and Bhutan are scheduled to visit Tripura next week to import bamboo and cane products from the state.

Official sources here today said that both the Thai and Bhutan authorities were convinced after seeing the products in the North East Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi and meeting with the craftsmen.

''Both the countries expressed their interest to set up long-term relationship with the state for importing bamboo products and therefore we invited them to Tripura and meet the primary stakeholders,'' State Handicrafts Minister Bijoylaxmi Sinha said today.

The village craftsmen of Tripura earned about Rs 70 lakh, while more than 4,000 people were employed in the handicrafts sector during the last fiscal, she said, adding that Tripura's cane and bamboo handicrafts were the best in the country, due to their beauty, elegance and exquisite designs.

Presently, Tripura exports a vast range of items, including furniture, panels and partitions, table mats and other mat products, lamp shades to about 14 nations of Asia and Europe.

About 10,000 skilled artisans produce more than 200 exquisite handicraft products in the state at present.

UNI