AP Govt to promote handicrafts in big way

Hyderabad, Oct 5 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Minister for Major Industries, Commerce and Export Promotion J Geeta Reddy today said the Government would promote handicrafts to help thousands of artisans in the State.

Inaugurating the ten-day Craft Bazaar 2007, organised by the Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation here, she said the Corporation would organise exhibitions in various prominent places all over the country to popularise traditional crafts and help craftspersons increase their earnings.

She said the Corporation marketed the creations of over two lakh artisans through its network of 14 sales emporia 'Lepakshi'. The Corporation had achieved a total sales turnover of Rs 47.50 crore during 2006-07 as against the sales of Rs 42.80 crore in the previous year.

Artisans from 14 States, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh , Gujarat,Bihar and West Bengal would showcase their products during the craft bazaar.

UNI