The Hindu Business Line : AP handicrafts expo begins in Mangalore today

The corporation, which markets its products under the trade name `Lepakshi', organised 35 exhibitions so far in the current financial year. It will hold an exhibition-cum-sale in Mangalore from January 20 to 30, according to Mr P. Venkataramudu, Manager of Lepakshi Handicrafts Emporium.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, he said that the corporation recorded a turnover of Rs 8.08 crore during 2003-04, by organising 65 exhibitions in the country. He said that it expects to record a sales turnover of Rs 9 lakh in the Mangalore exhibition.

Mr Venkataramudu said that artisans are invited for demonstrating their crafts and selling them in these exhibitions. The corporation holds training in select crafts where the production is not proportionate with the demand and also in those cases where the craft is languishing for want of adequate patronage.

To a query on post-training facilities for them, he said the corporation markets good quality products of trainees. This year, it is conducting training in brass art, stone carving and veena-making. Nearly 100 people are benefited from these training programmes every year, he said.

The corporation has set up procurement centres at Tirupathi for wood-carved items and kalamkri paintings and at Bobbili for veenas.

Apart from exhibitions, the corporation markets the products of 1.5 lakh artisans through 13 sales emporia. It recorded a sales turnover of Rs 16.31 crore through these emporia till November, he added.

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AP handicrafts expo begins in Mangalore today