Handicraft exports to grow by 10% to `23,560 crore in FY17: EPCH

With pick up in demand in the new and traditional markets, handicrafts exports will grow by about 10 per 

cent to Rs 23,560 crore in 2016-17, EPCH on Sunday said. Exports Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) 

Executive Director Rakesh Kumar said that demand in regions like the US, Europe, Latin America and Middle East is growing and it will help in recording a healthy growth figures in exports.

For the April September 2016 period, the exports reported a growth of 18.25 per cent year-on-year to Rs 13,005.35 crore. "The promotional efforts being undertaken towards enhancing our exports in these markets would certainly result in increase in exports not only in the traditional markets but also in the emerging markets. This year, we are targeting the export figure of Rs Rs 23,560 crore," Kumar said.

To boost the exports, the council has sough enhanced duty benefits for the sector, he said.