The Hindu Business Line : APHDC pegs Rs 30-cr turnover in 2003-04

THE Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd is planning to achieve Rs 30 crore sales turnover during 2003-04. Of this, Rs 21 crore is expected from 14 Lepakshi Handicraft Emporia and Rs 9 crore from exhibitions being held in various parts of the country.

Addressing presspersons here on Friday, Mr N. Nagabhushanam, Manager of Lepakshi Handicrafts Emporium, Andhra Pradesh Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd, Anantapur, said that the sales turnover of the corporation during 2002-03 was Rs 28 crore. Of this, 49 exhibitions contributed Rs 6.44 crore.

The Lepakshi exhibition-cum-sale opened in Mangalore on Friday.

He said that the corporation helps market the products of more than 1,50,000 craftsmen in Andhra Pradesh through its emporia and exhibitions. It procures quality products from artisans of Tirupathi, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad at a fair price. The corporation is only acting as a bridge between craftsmen and customers to avoid unfair trade practice by the middlemen, he said.

The corporation, in association with the Development Commissioner for Handicrafts, New Delhi, has set up Craft Development Centres (CDCs) in some areas of Andhra Pradesh. Apart from providing tools, raw material and infrastructure to the craftsmen at the centres, the corporation gives technical and design assistance. He said that the items produced at CDCs are being marketed through Lepakshi handicrafts emporia and such exhibitions.

He claimed that the Nirmal paintings and Nirmal furniture produced by the corporation have good demand in the world market.

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