Handloom industry eyes USD 55 million exports

Tirupati, Apr 11 (UNI) www.handlooms.com, a vertical portal on handloom textile industry launched last year at Hyderabad, is expected to earn exports worth USD 55 billion by 2012 compared to USD 19.24 billion in 2006-07 for the sector.

According to the portal's CEO Mr D G Ladha here today, the weaver community were facing hardship due to a saturated traditional handloom segment. The scope for getting an additional business of USD eight billion if the segment adopted emerging technologies to suit the varying tastes of buyers across the world.

The portal was acting as a connecting link between all weaver artisans, wholesalers, master weavers, retailers, importers and exporters, he said.

He said it was also providing necessary support in the areas such as latest trends, colours, fashion, branding, documentation and logistics to facilitate and improve Indian handloom industry.

Thirty per cent of India's total export income was generated by the textile industry, he said and claimed that it was the second largest industry after agriculture in providing employment.

Due to various factors, including unorganized vital issues and lack of proper informations regarding the real manufacturing centres and the master weavers informations, the bulk buyers from overseas had not paid proper attention to artisans, he said.

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