EPCH RELEASED GUIDANCE HANDBOOK FOR THE HANDICRAFT EXPORTERS OF INDIA

The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) organized an awareness seminar on Necessary Compliances in Handicrafts Sector and a “Guidance Handbook for the Handicrafts Exporters of India – Socio Legal Standards” in 11 regional languages was also released at Rajiv Gandhi Handicrafts Bhawan here on January 18, 2014 (Saturday).

Mr S S Gupta, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) was the Chief Guest of the seminar. The seminar was attended by Mr R. K. Malhotra, Chairman-IEML, Mr. Prince Malik, Member-COA EPCH, Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director-EPCH and host of other prominent member exporters.

The experts present during the seminar included Dr. Tamanna Chaturvedi, Assistant Professor at Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi and Mr. Dhruv Sahai, Senior Expert (Compliance) of M/s Sentio Advisory and interacted with the participants, wherein over 75 member exporters were present.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rakesh Kumar, ED-EPCH stressed on the significance of following the international compliances in order to sustain the export business. He further added that all necessary compliances like Health and Safety measures, Child Labour, Contract Labour, Employees PF, Employees State Insurance, Factories Act etc. must be complied with by the handicrafts exporters to maintain a competitive edge in the international market.

The faculty members made a detailed presentation on health and safety measures and other important compliances required by the handicrafts sector and urged the member exporters to get their factories compliant with the international norms and regulations.

On the occasion, Mr. S. S. Gupta, DC (Handicrafts) released a “Guidance Handbook for the Handicrafts Exporters of India – Socio Legal Standards”. Mr. Gupta further informed that the book has been published in eleven regional languages viz. English, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Assami, Bangali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi and Tamil in order to disseminate the message of the compliance upto the remotest corner of the country.

Dr. Tamanna Chaturvedi, Assistant Professor at IIFT informed that the necessary Compliances in Handicrafts sector is the only way to enhance their competitiveness in the international market and emphasized that the export business is highly specialized area of work and success in the competitive international markets will not be possible unless more pragmatic approach in our export planning and management is achieved.

Mr. Dhuruv Sahai, who has edited and compiled the Guidance Handbook, informed the participants about the contents of the book and its relevance in guiding the handicrafts manufacturers in achieving higher social compliance and labour standards.

Mr. Sahai also informed about the need of Fire Safety, Health safety norms, medical facility, machine safety, Electrical Safety, Chemical Safety, Hazardous material storage, Personal Protective Equipment that are required to be used in the manufacturing units. The speaker emphasized on the need of awareness about applicable laws/statutes, international standard codes of conduct etc.

The Chief Guest in his concluding remarks expressed satisfaction over the deliberations and hoped that with the compliance measures and safeguards available in the country, the prospects of increased exports in the future looks promising, however, the message of compliance is required to be percolated to each and every corner of the country.

Meanwhile, the Exectuive Director-EPCH further informed that simultaneously an awareness seminar was also being organized at Kolkata on “Understanding the Procedures of Custom Clearance of Export & Import cargo, Wild Life Pre-shipment Inspection and Drawback Claims” on January 18, 2014 wherein over 40 participants were present and interacted with the faculty members.

He informed that the Kolkata Seminar was organized with an aim to educate the member exporters on understanding the Procedures of Custom Clearance of Export & Import cargo, Wild Life Pre-shipment Inspection and Drawback Claims.

Mr. Rakesh Kumar further informed that the Council will organize seminars on similar as well as on other subjects for the promotion of handicrafts exports on regular basis in New Delhi and other craft clusters like Moradabad, Kolkata, Bangalore and North-East Region.