India’s Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) has set up an International Lace Trade Centre [ILTC] in Narsapuram in Andhra Pradesh under the Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) of the Ministry of Textiles to help craftsmen, artisans, producers and exporters in the State’s East Godavari and West Godavari districts.
Help will be offered to develop new designs, to adopt production techniques of lace products, and to market and export through exhibition and craft bazaar. The centre will enable the producing and exporting community to interact with foreign experts, designers and buyers on product development and exports. The centre has exhibition halls, an auditorium, an open air theatre, meeting rooms, ample facilities for craft bazaar, and accommodation for buyers and designers. More than lakh women artisans are estimated to be involved in making of lace products in India. More than 80 per cent of the exports of lace products originate from the East and West Godavari region. EPCH is also going to set a dyeing unit at ILTC as artisans have to travel long now for such services. The exports of lace and lace products was to the tune of Rs. 17.75 cr in 2013-14, which reached Rs. 26.57 cr in 2017-18.
