The Goa Handicrafts Rural & Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (GHRSSIDC), State handicrafts promotion and marketing body, is looking to set up an export cell to boost the exports of Goan handicrafts.

Mr Sameer Salgaoncar, industrialist who heads the GHRSSIDC, told presspersons here that the Corporation's recent initiatives include efforts to have export cells, handicraft hubs and a scheme to provide improved tools to artisans and self-help-groups is on the anvil.

Mr Salgaoncar, Chairman of GHRSSIDC, spoke of the plans to slowly built up an export market over the last two years. The corporation has exported around Rs 6 lakh worth of handicrafts to the US, the Netherlands and Switzerland and has received numerous enquiries from its participation at international exhibitions at Munich, Germany and Birmingham, UK, etc., he said.

“We will set up an export cell by recruiting specialised staff once the recruitment rules are approved by the State Government to provide assistance to artisans, exporters of handicrafts based in Goa, etc. A scheme for encouraging exports will be finalised soon,” he said.

Mr Nikhil Desai, Managing Director of GHRSSIDC, disclosed that the board of directors of GHRSSIDC recently resolved to tie-up with the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad to design and develop various specialised tools for artisans from Goa.

“With this tie-up with an institution with international recognition as one of the foremost institutions in the field of design, the corporation aims at improvement of livelihood possibilities of artisans in Goa by simplifying the existing processes as well as improving the productivity,” said Mr Desai.

Mr Salgaoncar also disclosed corporation's plans to collaborate with the National Jute Board for creation of livelihood in Goa through training in production of diversified jute products.

The memorandum of understanding between GHRSSIDC and National Jute Board will be for a project to train 1,000 women and rural poor in production of jute diversified products over a period of two years and will be signed shortly.

GHRSSIDC will be opening two new Aparant Goa Handicrafts Emporia at Jaipur and Agra.

It has reserved space at the upcoming Rajasthan Handicrafts Mall in Jaipur and at Shilpgram, Next to Taj Mahal, Agra.

These two new emporia will help to promote Goan handicrafts in other States.

A buyer-seller meet for Goan artisans is planned to be held at Pune and Hyderabad in May and June, respectively, said Mr Salgaoncar.

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