Promoting the export of handicrafts.

An international workshop on promoting the export of Indian handicrafts and a program for exchanging and sharing experiences in developing production and accessing international markets in the handicraft sector opened on September 17th in New Delhi.

The workshop was attended by experts and artisans from Vietnam, China, Thailand, the Philippines, Japan, Ireland, and the host country.

Vietnam delegationMaleThe Vietnamese delegation, led by Mr. Le Ba Ngoc, Vice President of the Vietnam Handicraft Export Association (Vietcraft), participated in the workshop.MaleThe exhibition features hand-embroidered items and stone carvings, attracting a large number of visitors.

Mr. Le Ba Ngoc said this is the first time in VietnamMaleHe participated in a handicraft workshop in India, where two artisans specializing in embroidery and stone carving directly demonstrated the production of their products on-site. He expressed hope that, in the trend of market integration, this workshop would be an opportunity for Vietnam to expand its export market for handicraft products, while also exchanging experiences with other countries.

Speaking at the workshop, SS Gupta, Chairman of the Indian Handicrafts Development Board, said that handicraft exports make a significant contribution to the Indian economy, with an average annual growth rate of 15% over the past few decades.

The value of India's handicrafts is approximately US$5.6 trillion per year, with exports reaching US$3.304 trillion and domestic consumption at US$2.3 trillion. However, India has yet to fully exploit the international market, as its share of the global handicraft market is less than 2%.

According to SS Gupta, the Indian handicraft industry is facing significant challenges such as rising labor and raw material costs; cheaper mechanized handicrafts also pose a threat to traditional crafts. Therefore, the handicraft industry needs to upgrade its technology, improve designs, and enhance the quality of its raw materials.

He also expressed hope that the workshop would provide an opportunity for Indian handicraft businesses to exchange experiences and explore markets with other countries.

According to Baocongthuong-PH