LACE EXPORTS FROM NARSAPUR TO REACH RS. 500 CRORES IN NEXT FIVE YEARS – EPCH
GREATER NOIDA LOKESH GOSWAMI 
New Delhi – 30th January, 2016 – Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts [EPCH] organized three day Reverse-Buyer-Seller meet [RBSM] from 28th to 30th January, 2016 at International Lace Trade Center (ILTC), Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh to promote the products of the Mega Cluster Narsapur and provide a marketing platform to over 54 manufacturer of Lace and Lace crafts.Dr. K. Gopal, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) formally inaugurated the Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet on 29th Jaunary, 2016. Shri Dinesh Kumar, Chairman, EPCH and other members of committee of Administration, leading exporters were also present during inaugural ceremony informed Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director – EPCH. While inaugurating the Buyer-Seller-Meet at Narsapur, Dr. K. Gopal , Development Commissioner ( Handicrafts) said that with the setting up of International Lace Trade Centre at Narsapur, the export of lace products will take a giant leap from the present level of Rs. 60 crores to Rs. 500 crores in next five years. He further emphasized that Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh has the largest concentration of crochet and lace artisans in the world with over 1 lakh home based women lace makers, capacity building, product diversification and training on competitiveness will enable us to meet the above target and International Lace Trade Centre will be playing a vital role in providing facilities of design innovation, quality improvement and marketing linkages which were lacking in the region and artisans and craftspersons were feeling deprived off. Leading Buyers from Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Madurai, Jaipur , Bangalore etc visited the three days RBSM for sourcing lace and lace products. Mr. Kumar said that the objective of organizing RBSM is to promote the centre and provide opportunity to primary producers of lace and lace products to meet with buyers and book orders, to interact with designers and buyers representatives to understand the choice and taste of consumers in domestic as well as in International market International Lace Trade Centre at Narsapur has been set up by EPCH in record time under the aegis of O/o Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textile, Govt. of India . The Centre has facilities of exhibition halls, auditorium, open-air theater, meeting rooms, training space, ample facilities for craft bazar, accommodation for buyers and designers beside administrative set up etc. The objective of setting of ILTC is to enhance the exports of lace and lace products from the current level of Rs.60 crores to Rs. 500 crores in next five years, generate additional livelihood opportunities to ensure sustained increase in the income and standard of living of the artisans. It would also help to provide critical production and commercial infrastructure, technology, marketing support, capacity building and product diversification to built competitiveness to ensure sustainable development of the cluster further elaborated ED-EPCH. Mr. Kumar further said that keeping in view the export potential of the region, Narsapur has been identified as mega cluster under Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) of O/o DC (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles. Over 80% of the total production of lace products is exported to the major markets of USA, Europe and Japan. The range of products exported from the region include home furnishings and made ups like table covers, table mats and napkins, cushion covers, bed spread, garments and accessories. Skill development and up-gradation has always been one of the top priorities of EPCH and keeping in line with the same, the Council has initiated skilling of over 5,000 individuals at West Godavari & East Godavari ,Narsapur. The skill training is based on National Occupational Standards for lace maker, furnishings, tailoring, apparel developed for lace and lace crafts. Over 3000 individuals artisans have been trained so far in 76 batches under the monitoring committee setup exclusively to see programs meet the standard and impact on skilling of artisans. In order to attain the objective of an overall development of the mega cluster, the Council has undertaken various marketing initiatives which included participation of exporters from the region in the world renowned IHGF Delhi Autumn 2015 and also in the forthcoming IHGF Delhi Fair Spring 2016. Further, the participation of the exporters in the overseas shows like Heimtextil 2016 and Birmingham Spring Fair, UK 2016 is also being facilitated by the Council giving opportunities to the exporters to showcase their products at the International level, highlighted Mr. Rakesh Kumar. The RBSM would be beneficial for both suppliers of lace and lace productsand marketers which would result in enlarging marketing opportunities for their products as well as to bring innovation in the product range which have great potentiality both in domestic as well as in International marketing informed ED-EPCH.
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