Rajasthan handicraft sector shifts focus to domestic market

19 Aug '09

2 min read

Handicraft exporters of Rajasthan, who have been harshly affected by the ongoing economic slowdown, are now focusing on the domestic market in order to survive through the crisis, as this is the market that has remained unaffected by the economic slump.

A three-day Handicraft Fair in Jaipur had been organized by the Federation of Rajasthan Handicraft Exporters (FRHE), in order to tap the domestic market by providing platform to the sellers and buyers of handicrafts.

Top-notch quality items like blue pottery, ceramics, clay items, traditional furnishing items, textiles, jewelry and furniture artifacts had been displayed by about 100 exhibitors at the exhibition. The items those which were being exported globally are now being sold to the whole sellers, retailers and individual buyers in the local market.

In this regard, an exporter said that while catering to the global markets earlier, the exporters were not even looking at the local markets. But due to the economic slowdown they have re-set their focus on the domestic market and tapping the domestic market would help the handicrafts trade to survive and grow, he added.

The Chairman of FRHE, Mr Dilip Vaid, said that the domestic market will witness a huge growth in coming five years and many exporters will move to the domestic market from the international market. This year the handicraft industry in Rajasthan exported Rs. 200 billion worth of handicraft items, which is Rs. 150 billion less than that of last fiscal.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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