Make In India, For The World: Centre Takes Steps To Create A Better Platform For Handloom, Handicraft Exports

With the aim to provide a better platform for export of handicraft products, the Union Government would set up a Weaver Services and Design Resource Centre in Kullu in Himachal Pradesh.

Announcing the initiative, Union Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal
said that Himachal Pradesh possesses tremendous talent and potential with magical hands that are weaving beautiful art products.

He said there is a need to work proactively by the state and Central Ministries to bring these products into the international market in a befitting manner.

The Minister was speaking at an interaction programme with handicrafts and handloom artisans organised under 'Seva and Samarpan Abhiyan' to commemorate the golden jubilee year of statehood of Himachal Pradesh in Kullu.

Goyal said that Himachal Pradesh had immense potential for handicrafts and skill upgradation of artisans, modern equipment and training would be imparted to prepare qualitative new designs in the Weavers Service Centre.

He said that more attention was needed to modernise the design, quality, packaging and marketing so that the weavers get better prices for their products in the international market.

The Minister said that Himachal's cap is recognised internationally today and there was a need to redesign the same in line with international requirements in the coldest places in the world.

He suggested organising district-wise exhibitions of these products in big cities, along with people associated with the textile industry and five star hotels so that their branding could be done at national and international levels.

Goyal asked the weavers to get their trademarks for which the central government had reduced the registration fee by 80 per cent.

He also interacted with the entrepreneurs of the district and distributed woodcraft, handloom, embroidery machines and certificates to the local handicraft and handloom artisans.

Urging the State Industries Department to focus primarily on the ways and means for improvement of the quality of wool used in the manufacturing of handloom and handicraft products, Goyal applauded the weavers and workers present on the occasion.

Observing that he witnessed displays of pure art, he said each product was very beautiful and the hands that manufactured them were really precious.
He, however, cautioned that its commercial value has increased a lot in all these years and there is a need to focus on improvement in product manufacturing.

The Minister emphasised that there was a paramount need to focus on standardised packaging following designing of products and its manufacturing with appropriate modern marketing.

This, he added, would fetch the best and right price for the products in the international market.

Extending his gratitude to the Union Minister for fulfilling the demand of the state for a Weaver Service and Design Resource Centre,
Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said, at present, there are 13,572 registered weavers in the state whose livelihood was related to the skill of weaving and embroidery and necessary steps had been taken to encourage the artisans of the state.

The Chief Minister further said that the tourism sector had been badly affected during the crisis of Covid-19 and the handloom sector was no exception, affecting thousands of craftsmen.