'Lepakshi Craft Bazaar-2007' begins Nov 23 in AP

Vijayawada, Nov 22 (UNI) The VI 'Lepakshi Craft Bazaar-2007,' organised by the Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited (APHDCL), will begin at PWD Grounds here tomorrow.

Talking to newspersons today, APHDCL Managing Director B Jayaraj said about 150 artisans and craftpersons from 18 states across the country would display their products.

Krishna District Collector Navin Mittal would inaugurate the 11-day event, he said.

Mr Jayaraj said the APHDCL had been organising the event for the last five years and received tremendous public response.

Financial assistance for the expo would be given by the APHDCL and Union Textile Ministry, he said.

He said the corporation had 14 sales emporia with the trade name 'Lepakshi'. Five more showrooms would be opened at Cuddapah, Guntur and Hyderabad in the next two to three years.

The APHDCL had earned a net profit of Rs 1.75 crore in the last fiscal besides initiating and implementing schemes for the welfare of artisans.

The corporation had achieved a total sales turnover of Rs 48 crore in 2006-07 and aimed to clock Rs60 crore in fiscal.

UNI