Discussing issues related to Handicraft sector in India

Government of India, Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Directorate of Foreign Trade convened a meeting to discuss various issues related to the promotion of exports and domestic manufacturing on June 6, 2019, in the Capital.

Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry chaired the meeting along with Hardeep Singh Puri and Som Prakash, Union Ministers of State for Commerce and Industry. Senior officials such as Dr Anup Wadhawan, Secretary Commerce; Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog; Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Secretary Revenue; Alok Vardhan Chaturvedi, Director General of Foreign Trade, and other senior officers of various Government departments were also present during the meeting.

Major industry representatives from CII, FICCI, ASSOCHEM, Exim Banks, ECGC, Chairmen of EPCs were also present, informed Rakesh Kumar, Director General – EPCH.

While speaking during the meeting, the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry emphasised that for achieving high jump in exports, the State Government and Central Government should make joint efforts. The agenda of the Government is ''Sab Ka Saath Sabka Vikas''. CIM  stressed that State level export strategy should be prepared and meeting of Export Commissioners along with Central Government officers should be held periodically to address the issues pertaining to export.

The Minister further suggested identifying the products and markets for export so that a special status for a policy may be prepared. CIM also proposed to provide export credit in foreign currency through banks.

Ravi K Passi, Chairman presented the concerns of the Handicrafts sector.

The issues presented to the Commerce Minister included enhancement in allocation of fund under MAI scheme based on export performance, reimbursement of airfare and hotel accommodation to the buyers from major and developed countries should also be brought under the MAI guidelines rather than markets only from LAC, CIS, Africa, and South East Asian countries, to name a few, said Ravi K Passi, Chairman – EPCH.   O P Prahladka, former Chairman – EPCH was also present during the Board of Trade meeting.

Kumar, DG- EPCH informed that EPCH has also requested the Commerce Minister for the formation of an empowered Senior Decision Making Group comprising the representatives from Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Textiles, DGFT and Customs to resolve the day-to-day issues pertaining to Handicrafts Sector.

The exports of handicrafts sector during 2018-19 is estimated to be Rs. 26590.25 crores and USD 3803.55 million registering a growth of 15.46% (Rupee term) and 6.44% (dollar term) over the same period last year.

Ravi K Passi after the meeting informed that Union Minister of Commerce and Industry is very positive to support the export sector.