The Hindu Business Line : Lepakshi sale opens in Kochi

Exquisite ware: A VIEW OF the 10-day Lepakshi exhibition-cum-sale organised by the Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation in Kochi on Thursday. -- K.K. Mustafah

Kochi, July 20

Lepakshi, the 10-day exhibition-cum-sale organised by the Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation commenced here on Thursday. The Kochi Mayor, Prof Mercy Williams, inaugurated the exhibition at Gangothri Hall here. It displays handicrafts items, hand-woven sarees, leather utility goods, jewellery, pottery items, etc.

Mr P. Venkataramudu, Manager, Lepakshi Handicrafts Emporium, said the Corporation marketed the production of over 2 lakh artisans through its network of 13 sales emporia with the trade name Lepakshi. It achieved a total sales turnover of Rs 42 crore in 2005-06 as against sales of Rs 40 crore the previous year.

The earnings from the exhibition sales were also showing an increase as the Corporation achieved a sales turnover of Rs 12.25 crore from 70 exhibitions in 2005-06 as against Rs 10.50 crore sales from 70 exhibitions in 2004-05, he added.

Apart from popularising the traditional crafts, the objective was to help the craftsmen increase their earnings by way of sales in these exhibitions.

The Corporation invites artisan craft persons in different media to demonstrate and sell their products directly to customers.

To explore the possibility of entering the export market, the Corporation was also participating in international trade fairs. The recent participation in fairs organised in the US, the UK and Germany had drawn good response.

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