Handicrafts exports up by 16 pc to USD 179 mn in April'10.

NEW DELHI: India's handicrafts exports grew by 16 per cent to USD 179 million in April compared to the same period in the previous fiscal, on growing demand from the US market.

The exports stood at USD 154.78 million in April, 2009. "We are getting good number of export orders from the US market. But there is less business from the European markets," Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts Chairman Raj Malhotra said.

The exporters are hopeful that exports would continue to grow in the current fiscal.

"We are expecting a growth of 9 to 10 per cent in 2010-11 compared to the last fiscal," Malhotra added.

Among the items that registered a healthy growth are imitation jewellery, which grew by 21 percent, followed by wood wares 20.66 per cent, shawls (as art wares) 18.39 percent, zari and zari goods 16.67 percent and art metal ware 14.32 percent.

After 11 months of contraction since October 2008, exports from the handicrafts sector turned positive in September 2009, registering a growth of over 160 percent compared to September 2008.

The US and EU together account for 70 per cent of the country's handicrafts exports.

Moradabad, Jaipur, Saharanpur, Jodhpur and Narsapur are the major handicraft hubs catering to world markets and employ one million people.

Source : The Economic Times