Export Promotion Council For Handicrafts

Highlights of Achievements

HIGHLIGHTS OF ACHIEVEMENTS

A non profit autonomous international organization responsible for development, promotion and exports of handicrafts & cottage sector from India.

Self sustaining, vibrant and nominated Model Council by Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India.

First ISO 9001:2000 certified Council to undertake prestigious infrastructure, Employment generation, poverty alleviation, integrated projects especially for women and weaker section of society.

Wide impact on employment generation programmes especially from regions of North Eastern, rural and semi- urban areas.

Job responsibilities involved planning to execution of various prestigious projects and schemes for development of cottage and handicrafts clusters which provides livelihood to 6 millions crafts persons by creation of infrastructure, product development, manpower training and international marketing support. Working with overall budget lines of US$ 100 million. A brief is follows:

EMPLOYMENT LINKED INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COTTAGE & HANDICRAFTS CLUSTERS OF INDIA

Initiated various employment linked integrated projects right from the stage of conceiving, preparation of feasibility study, approval, project report, implementation and monitoring. List of few important are placed below:

INTEGRATED INTERNATIONAL MARKETING PROJECT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, PROMOTION AND EXPORT MARKETING OF HANDICRAFTS FORM NORTH EASTERN REGION

- US$ 2.27 millions project under EDF scheme of Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India under execution – Approved by High Level Committee under the Chairmanship of Commerce Secretary, Govt. of India.

- The Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India rated this project as one of the most successful projects ever implemented for International Marketing in the North East. More than 500 entrepreneurs have turned into a successful exporters with sustainable employment and income generation plan. The project is running at full pace and success and even quoted by the world bank, ADB.

- For the 1st time in the history of North East containers of handicrafts have started moving. A sustainable employment and income generation programme has changed scenario and witnessed by all the policy and decision making machinery of the country.

- A Model project for Employment Generation increased, Income Level and Poverty Alleviation from the entire North East part of India which is the poorest zone.

PROJECTING THE HANDICRAFTS OF TRIPURA IN INTERNATIONAL MARKET

- A Ministry of Commerce project in association with Govt. of Tripura. US$ 0.22 million project. More than 200 entrepreneurs have been trained in project and turned into successful exporters. The project has been rated by Govt. of Tripura as most ever successful project. A forward and background linkages have been provided.

CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

- Responsible for the export awareness at the important clusters viz. Saharanpur, Jodhpur, Chennapatana, Moradabad, Bhadohi etc. which within a span of 10 years have become top forex earners. Jodhpur is the most successful example where the export was NIL before 10 years and now there is export of more than US$ 227 million.
- The efforts made in the direction of poverty alleviation through alternative routes of creating mass awareness by Entrepreneurial Development Programme.

TECHNOLOGY UPGRADATION CENTRE AT SAHARANPUR & JODHPUR: FIRST SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONAL PROJECT ON PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

- Impressed with the setting up of Common Facility Centres, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India entrusted responsibility of setting up of most prestigious technology upgradationcentre at Saharanpur at the cost of US$ 1.32 millions. The centre has been launched successfully by setting up of carpentry school, design studio and seasoning plant etc.
- To upgrade the level of technology setting up of two prestigious Common Facility Centres so as to compete with markets of China and neighboring countries. Projects of more than US$ 2.2 millions are successfully running with imported machines.
- Due to success the Govt. has entrusted to set up 20 Common Facility Centre at different craft pockets.

SETTING UP OF INDIA EXPOSITION MART, INDIA’S FIRST STATE-OF-ART PROJECT FOR COTTAGE SECTOR ON THE LINES OF DALLAS, SHANGHAI, UTRECHT ETC. - A US$ 0.44 MILLIONS PROJECT–

- Approved by Committee of Secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary – For creating strong international marketing network – Advance stage of implementation.
- US$ 0.88 millions project implemented on Private Public Partnership (PPP) model with state of Infrastructure facilities.
- Associated in the project from the stage of conceiving to realization.

SETTING UP OF NATIONAL LEVEL DESIGN CENTRE AT MORADABAD & NEW DELHI – US$2.2 MILLIONS

- Approved by Planning Commission of India.

IMPORT SHOP

- An Import Shop concept has been provided to help the small and medium exporters to procure duty free embellishment and consumables.

SETTING UP OF SHOW ROOMS AND WAREHOUSES AT DALLAS MARKET CENTRE, DALLAS, USA: FIRST PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED INTERNATIONAL PROJECT

- For the first time, show rooms have been established by any trade promotion organization in USA. The project is running successfully with representation of large number of exporters in Dallas.

INTEGRATED EXPORT PROMOTION AND BRAND IMPAGE PROMOTION OF INDIAN HANDICRAFTS IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS

- An ambitious project of more than US$ 0.22 million has been launched for Publicity, Promotion, Reverse Buyer-Seller Meets, focused participation.

LAUNCHING OF PRODUCT SPECIFIC INTERNATIONAL SHOWS

- Instrumental in conceiving and launching of six product specific shows for quantum jump in export earnings of the Handicraft sector
- Indian Flooring, Furnishing and Textiles Expo
- Indian Fashion and Jewellery& Accessories Show
- Indian Stationery and Paper Expo
- Indian Decoration Expo
- Indian Furniture show
- Indian Houseware Show

PRESENTATION BEFORE HIGH POWERED COMMITTEES, COMMITTEES OF SECRETARIES AND GOMs

- Member of the team which has made various presentation before High Powered Committees, Groups of Ministers, Parliamentary committees and committees of Secretaries headed by cabinet secretaries. Some of them are:
- Quantum jump in the exports of handicrafts and road map of handicrafts sector
- Setting up of India’s State of Art Infrastructure project i.e., India Expo Mart & Centre.

EMPLOYMENT LINKED EXPORT PROMOTION PROJECTS:

- Organization of Folk Craft Festivals in different parts of the world viz Caracas, Spain, Germany, USA, Brazil etc. for creating awareness of Indian Cottage crafts – An effort to project India as a whole in unexplored and virgin markets by organizing Indian Food Festival, Folklore Dances, India Tourism, Tea, Coffee, Spices etc.
- A prestigious Export Promotion Programme supported by Ministry of Textiles & Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India
- Coordination of visit of High level buying team / press / mission from abroad under Focus LAC, Africa, ASEAN and CIS countries.
- Stores Promotion Programme viz. SEARS Canada supported by MOC i.e. India Promotion in 500 stores of SEARS Canada.
- Assisting in organization of World renowned Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair (IHGF) with more than 1000 exhibitors and 4500 overseas buyers – A largest showcase of Asia on Handicrafts & Gifts.
- Team leader in organization of various fairs Export Promotion Projects including overseas fairs.
- Design Development Projects with International organization CIM GTZ Germany, IDZ Germany, Design for the World, Spain, FAME, Manila etc.
- Organization of special show on Sports, Toys, Hobbies & Leisure Sector for 1st time in Indian i.e. SPOT India supported by Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India.

MANPOWER, MARKET INTELLIGENCE & HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

- Organizing workshops, seminars, buyer seller meet, interactive sessions, coordinated till date more than 5000 such programme for creating awareness, entrepreneurship development, Technical up-gradation etc.
- Specialized in organization of skill development programme, technology up- gradation programme and medium & long term training programmes.

POLICY RELATED ISSUES

- Head a team of policy formulation related issues on infrastructure creation, EXIM Policy, Export Promotion Policies etc.

CO-ORDINATION

- Coordination with different Department of Govt. of India viz. Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of External Affairs, Planning Commission, NGOs, Trade Bodies, Association Specialization in coordination with overseas trade promotion organization viz. CBI The Netherlands, NORAD, UNDP / UNIDO, CIM GTZ etc. and similar other organizations viz. UNCTAD etc.

HIGH LEVEL DELEGATIONS

- Part of many high level delegations uptoHon’ble Minister of Textiles, Govt. of India for abroad.