- The Annual
General Meeting of the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts was held on
December 14, in New Delhi
The 33rd Annual General Meeting of the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) was held on December 14, at New Delhi. While addressing the meeting, Mr. Ravi K Passi, Chairman – EPCH informed that with the active support of the Council, exporting community performed very well with respect to exports from the country which was Rs 23,029.36 crores in 2017-18 and reached to the tune of Rs 26,590.25 in 2018-19 crores registering an impressive growth of 15.46% over the previous year.
Mr. Passi further informed about multifarious activities related to marketing, product and design development, skilling, compliance and other initiatives undertaken by EPCH during 2018-19. Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts also represented various issues pertaining to GST, MEIS benefits and the range of other issues affecting handicrafts sector at the highest level including Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Ministry of Finance, he shared.
With an objective to offer
avenues for technological upgradation, skill development and marketing
opportunities, EPCH set up Handicrafts Productivity Centre and Testing
Laboratory at Jaipur, upgraded the Saharanpur Common Facility Centre with
latest and modern technology machines, elaborated Passi. While speaking at the
meeting, Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Director General – EPCH shared some interesting and
notable facts about Council’s PAN India reach and active participation of the
prominent exporters from various crafts pockets in development, promotion and
growth of exports of Handicrafts.
He further informed the House about the
tremendous increase of participation in IHGF Delhi Fair (Autumn/Spring) as well
as footfall of overseas buyers in IHGF Delhi Fair in recent IHGFs. Six new
members of the Administration Committee – Raj Kumar Malhotra of M/s Asian
Handicrafts Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon from Northern Region; Hansraj Baheti of M/s Thar
Art Exports, Jodhpur; and Lekhraj Maheshwari of M/s Rajasthan Handloom &
Handicrafts Industries, Jaipur from North West Region; Nabeel Ahmad of M/s
Nawab Regency, Moradabd; Kamal Soni of M/s Vallabh Metal Inc., Moradabd; and
Sharad Kumar Bansal of M/s Bansal Impex, Moradabad elected from Central Region
were also welcomed in the team.
- Data published by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) shows that between April and November 2019, India’s gross import of rough diamonds fell 17.4% year-on-year to $8.55 billion. According to the report, the sharp fall was caused by financing cuts by banks, which led to a “liquidity crunch” among cutters and polishers, resulting in a decline in purchases.
