Handicraft exports up by 21 % in June.

India's handicraft exports grew by over 21 per cent to USD 136 million in June over the year-ago period, thanks to increasing Christmas orders.

Handicrafts exports stood at USD 112.29 in June 2009, according to the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).

"There has been an increase in orders since the month of June is season time... Christmas orders are also increasing. The orders will continue to see an upsurge till mid-September," EPCH chairman Raj Malhotra said.

He stated that though there are more orders from the US, orders from the European market continue to be stagnant. The US and EU together account for 70 per cent of the country's handicraft exports.

Among items that registered maximum growth were woodware, which grew by over 47 per cent, followed by imitation jewellery (37 per cent), artware (28.7 per cent), zari and related products (20.3 per cent), and artmetal ware (19.5 per cent).

After 11 months of contraction since October 2008, handicraft exports turned positive only in September 2009 -- registering a growth of over 160 per cent.

Moradabad, Jaipur, Saharanpur and Jodhpur are the major handicraft hubs catering to global markets.

The sector employs about 1 million people

Source : My Digital Fc