Marketing project for development of handloom and handicraft

Bhubaneswar, Mar 1 (UNI) The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) proposed to set up an integrated marketing project for the development and promotion of handicrafts and handlooms of Orissa with special focus on tribal and fibre craft.

Official sources here said EPCH Executive Director R Kumar made the proposal to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during a meeting in New Delhi today.

Mr Kumar said though the state has a vast potential for development of tribal crafts, tribal jewellery, dhokra casting, silver filigree,terracotta,wood work, applique work, horn work, golden grass work, cane and bamboo products, but these crafts had not been exported to the optimum sale.

The Director said the proposed project would offer an opportunity to harness this potential.

The project would include various components like human resource development, design and product development, national and international marketing, setting up of a state-of-the-art craft complex in Bhubaneswar and Puri.

Showrooms would be opened abroad under the project.

The Rs 100 crore project would be an integrated one and executed in phased manner.

The project would create employment opportunity for more than three lakh families of the state and is proposed to be executed by Special Purpose Vehicle of EPCH and IL&FS.

The Chief Minister hoped the project would give a great boost to the development of handicrafts and handloom sectors in an integrated manner to the benefit of a large number of weavers and artisan families.

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