The Hindu Business Line : North-East handicrafts body expects 50% increase in turnover

Hyderabad, Aug. 18 North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd (NEHHDC) expects a 50 per cent increase in its turnover during the current financial year, up from Rs 10 crore last fiscal.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Mr Jagdish Borah, Managing Director NEHHDC, said that the corporation is looking at organising close to 100 exhibitions during the current financial year as against 60 last year. Until now this year, 15 exhibitions have been organised.

Eyeing international fairs

“Last year, we took part in an international exhibition in Bangkok. With the approval from the Union Government, we are looking at participating in international exhibitions in Italy, Toronto and Johannesburg this year,” Mr Borah said.

The Corporation is planning to open one more Purbashree emporia during the year.

Its showrooms are located in Shillong, Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai.

Production constraints

According to him, the constraints in production and marketing of handicrafts of North East regions are due to inadequate availability and high prices of the Raidang cane, destruction of cane bearing tracks and the high cost of transportation.

“Also there is a problem of packaging, lack of seasoning and treating facilities, lack of training and product design development and a weak production base,” he said.

“We are requesting the Central Government not to allow transfer of raw materials from the North East and consider tissue culture and social forestry for cane production,” Mr Borah said.

The Corporation is currently organising an exhibition in the city which will be on till the end of the month.

“The unique aspect of NEHHDC is we encourage products of artisans from eight different States,” he said.

The Corporation, he said, is also looking at taking help of the National Institute of Design to organise more development workshops and for marketing of the products.

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North-East handicrafts body expects 50% increase in turnover