IIE to set up clusters for handloom and handicraft products

Guwahati, Oct 25 (UNI) Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) has set an ultimate goal of discovering a common brand for handloom and handicraft products of the region through cluster development approach.

IIE director K Ahmed today said there was no alternative to cluster development and help the small and medium entrepreneurs(SMEs) of the region to survive the competition in the global market given the high rate of sickness among SMEs of the region.

Mr Ahmed said a common North-East brand for handloom and handicraft products would definitely be a boon for the small entrepreneurs to get remunerative prices for their products.

''However, our immediate goal is to popularise and set up clusters in the region and first go for common cluster level brands of products.'' To start with the IIE has so far set up a cane and bamboo cluster at Dimapur in Nagaland under clear mandates from DC-SSI, Government of India. The cluster was started with only 12 entrepreneurs about one and a half year back. Today there are 53 entrepreneurs in the cluster. The IIE aims at increasing the number of entrepreneurs in the cluster to 100 on completion of three years.

Another handloom cluster set up by the IIE in Imphal East district of Manipur has gained tremendous popularity with 500 weavers joining it at the initial stage. The IIE targets to increase the number of weavers in the cluster to 5000 years in three years.

The Development Commissioner, Handloom, Government of India, is planning to set up 100 handloom clusters in the country out of which 17 will be set up in the North East.

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) will set up total nine clusters in the region out of which three will be set up in Asom's Dhubri, Mukalmua and Barpeta.

UNI XC KK RN1723