Major items of exports include artmetalware, woodware, handprinted textiles, and scarves, embroidered and crocheted goods, shawls as artwares, zari and zari goods, laces, imitation jewellery and other miscellaneous items. The US, Canada, the European and West Asian countries are the major buyers of Indian handircrafts.

The industry is spread all over the country employing over 5 million artisans. Over 67000 exporters have registered with the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).

While exports take place throughout the year two annual fairs in Delhi, the Indian Handicraft and Gift Fair Autumn in October and Spring in February-March bring together over 600 exporters in the country and attract large number of buyers from all over the world. They serve as the windows of Indian handicrafts to the world.

However India hasonly just 1.2 per cent share in the over $100 billion world trade in handicrafts. China has 14 per cent share in the trade. ``As such there is tremendous potential for exports of Indian handicrafts in the world market'', EPCH sources in Chennai say.

The southern states have a very strong base for handicrafts production with a large number of artisans in various fields. However, according to the Development Commissioner for Handicrafts, R K Mathur, the exports of handicrafs from the south is only eight per cent of the total exports from the country. There are only 520 registered handicrafts exporters from the region.

The major share of this eight per cent is from Narasapur in Andhra Pradesh, the lace centre of India. The small pocket of Narasapur exports lace produces worth about Rs 175 crore. The development commissioner has chalked out a Rs 20 lakh programme to boost handicrafts exports from the south. It plans to educate the manufacturers and exporters about the latest trends and requirements ofconsumers abroad. Stress will also be made on the need for adopting attractive designs, packaging and above all quality control measures.