Record growth in EPCH membership; exports cross Rs 23,000 crore mark

New Delhi: The 32nd Annual General Meeting of the Export Promotion Council was held on Tuesday in New Delhi. O.P. Prahladka, Chairman, EPCH, while addressing the AGM informed that over 10,000 handicrafts exporters have been registered with the Council for the first time in the history of the Council. This has now increased from 9,641 to 10,641. Prahladka also informed that exports of handicrafts during the year 2017-18 has been worth Rs. 23,029.36 crores

Multifarious activities related to development and promotion of handicrafts exports from the Country have been undertaken by the Council during the year 2017-18 informed Prahladka which are included organization of four International fairs in India two editions of IHGF-Delhi Fair, Home Expo India, Indian Fashion Jewellery & Accessories show, over 200 informative and interactive seminars in 40 different craft clusters, 36 specialised trade exhibitions, brand image promotion programmes /Buyer-seller meets in 18 leading markets.

Apart from above, Council also made representations at various levels particularly related to GST including GST Council and due to the regular interaction with the GST Council, Prahladka informed that Council was able to garner maximum support for the handicrafts sector.

He further informed that MOUs with National/International organization for export promotion and development have been signed by the Council.

With an objective to offer avenues for technological upgradation, skill development and marketing opportunities, EPCH set up and upgraded infrastructure and facilities at various craft hubs. These included Handicraft Productivity Centre at Jaipur, Technology Upgradation Centre and Wood Seasoning plant at Saharanpur and initiated Trade Facilitation Centre, Jodhpur elaborated Prahladka.

One of the major achievements during 2017-18 remained awareness initiative about Timber Legality Assessment and Verification Scheme through promotional drive in India as well as overseas markets and also brought in timber merchants and saw millers under the ambit of Vriksh Scheme and over 500 wooden handicrafts exporters have been certified as vriksh compliant companies.

Council also inducted six Director in place of earlier who retired by rotation. The new elected Directors are R.K. Passi, Arshad Mir and Prince Malik from Northern region, Jesmina Zeliang from North East region, K.N. Tulasi Rao from Southern Region and Dileep Baid from North West region.

During AGM, EPCH paid homage to P.N. Suri, Past Chairman, EPCH, and Abdul Jabbar, a very old handicrafts exporter from Moradabad. Abdul Jabbar was one of the partners in Metal Products of India, Moradabad.

The handicrafts exports during the first five months of current financial year from April to August, 2018-19 is Rs. 10,376.58 crores registering a growth of over 6.58 per cent over the same period

in last year.