The Hindu Business Line : Handicraft exports up 13.71% in April-Nov

Handicraft exports from the country surged by 13.71 per cent in dollar terms in April-November 2006 to touch $1.99 billion compared with $1.75 billion recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year.

In rupee terms, handicraft exports increased by 16.59 per cent in April-November 2006 to Rs 9,116.81 crore compared with Rs 7,819.68 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Target `difficult'

The handicraft export target for 2006-07 has been pegged at $3.73 billion (Rs 16,500 crore). "Going by the current trend, it would be difficult to achieve this target. But we will try and make it there to achieve this target," Mr Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), told Business Line.

Import Duty

Meanwhile, the EPCH has sought concessional import duty of 5 per cent through the Union Textiles Ministry (without export obligation) on hand tools, machine tools, equipments and machineries required in the manufacture of handicrafts.

In its pre-Budget submissions, the council has made a case for expanding the list of duty-free imports of embellishments/trimmings and consumables, as the existing list does not cover many important items.

The EPCH has also sought upward revision in the duty drawback rate for brass artwares.

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