Handicrafts World News

BeyoÄŸlu’s second Gold Hands Festival begins
Turkish Daily News (subscription), Turkey
ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

The second Gold Hands Festival began Tuesday in Istanbul’s BeyoÄŸlu district. The festival, which will run through Sept. 6, is organized by the Culture and Tourism Ministry in Taksim Gezi Park. BeyoÄŸlu’s Mayor Ahmet Misbah Demircan said that there are 73 artists contributing to the festival from 33 different cities around Turkey.

“I am very happy that there is a big improvement this year, when compared with last years festival,” said Demircan and added, “Artists are the biggest part of our culture. Even though they lost some of their market share with the industrial revolution, I am still hopeful because people prefer natural and handmade goods.” (more…)

Cameroon: Gov’t Supports Bamenda Machine Project with CFA 20 Million
Cameroon Tribune (Yaoundé)
29 August 2007
Posted to the web 29 August 2007
AllAfrica.com, Washington
Choves Loh

Minister Etoundi Ngoa during a working visit urged operators to group themselves into cooperatives to ease funding.

North West operators in the small and medium sized sector have acknowledged inspiration from the visiting Minister, Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa who spent August 22-24 encouraging and promoting activities of the young ministry in Bamenda. On the spot, the minister listened to heights and speed brakes that haunt progress in the sector. Speaker after Speaker during the visit hailed the creation of the ministry as the positive way forward after years of crying in the rain. (more…)

Artifacts producers to use innovations for market exports.
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, Kenya
Written By:Emmanuel Toili , Posted: Mon, Aug 27, 2007

Crafts and Textiles produced locally for commercial purposes require novel designs to compete in the European Union - EU markets.

The Export Promotion Council Supply Chain Development Manager, Lucy Waithaka says the market is demanding new handicrafts products that will require innovative designs in meeting specific seasonal niche. (more…)

US door for handicraft made by women
Fiji Times, Fiji

PLANS are in motion to export handicrafts made by women in the Northern Division to the United States, says Interim Social Welfare Minister, Adi Laufitu Malani.

Adi Laufitu revealed this during her meeting with the committee of the National Centre for Small and Micro Enterprises Development in Labasa yesterday.

She said the interim Government was looking at products such as tapa, kuta, mats and other handicraft work that were of interest in the American market.

She said they were looking at arranging the exports under “duty-free” privileges.

“We want the women in the Northern Division to take advantage of the opportunity where they can sell certain goods to the US without paying duty,” Adi Laufitu said. (more…)

Few shops open for cruise liner’s visit
Fiji Times, Fiji

AHANDFUL of handicraft sellers had the chance to make money yesterday when the cruise liner Pacific Sun called into Suva.

The ship, which set sail from Australia with more than 200 passengers, will sail through South Pacific ports before returning to Sydney.

But visitors on board had limited shopping opportunities because most boutiques were closed. (more…)

Pakistan : Traditional handicraft expo in Islamabad
August 24, 2007
Fibre2fashion.com, India

Islamabad is currently hosting a 10-day exhibition displaying exquisite hand embroidered outfits, handbags, purses and other such accessories.

The event housed at the Hawwa Women Craft Cooperatives offices opened on Wednesday. (more…)

India : Handloom & handicraft a huge foreign exchange earner
August 23, 2007
Fibre2fashion.com, India

India is known for its exquisite and rich source of traditional handloom textiles and handicrafts. Indian artisans, with their unique craftmanship, have made it possible to create an alcove for themselves in the international arena.

Today, Indian handicraft is the most sought after among westerners. Craftsmen from different states create fine artefacts. Bamboo work of Mizoram, Kashmiri shawls, kantha stitch of West Bengal, bandhni from Gujarat, paithani brocade of Maharashtra are quite well-known in the international market (more…)

Handloom and handicraft exports show rising trend
22 August 2007
domain-B, India

According to data from the directorate general of commercial intelligence and statistics, exports of handicrafts including hand knotted carpets have been rising for the last three years. In 2006-07, the export value was Rs20,963 crore, up from Rs19,267.65 crore in the previous year and Rs18,567.76 crore in 2004-05.

In response to a query, minister of state for textiles E V K S Elangovan, informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply about the steps taken or being taken to promote exports of handlooms and handicrafts from the country including tribal area. (more…)

Sri Lanka:Presidential awards for handicraft and small-medium industries
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka (press release), Switzerland

The winners of the Shilpa-2006 handicraft, small and medium scale industry national exhibition held in November 2006 will be awarded with presidential awards on the 30th of this month. The recipients will also be awarded with cash prizes from Rs.5000/= upward to 50,000/=.

Announcing this at a media briefing held at the Government Information Department today, Minister of Minister of Rural Industries & Self-Employment Promotion S.B. Navinna said that the objective of this awarding is to appreciate and encourage the personals and communities engaged in local industries. (more…)

India : 2 WB villages to be labelled major handicraft hubs
August 20, 2007
Fibre2fashion.com, India

Manabendra Mukherjee, the State Tourism Minister, while inaugurating the Bengal Handicrafts Museum at Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) said that Samudragarh and Panchmura, two villages in West Bengal, would be recognized as core sectors of fine art and craft by the Union Ministry.

Around 5.5 lakh talented craftsmen from West Bengal are unable to present their skills to the world. The Government has, therefore, decided to set up an export base in Rajarhat New Town for handicraft and handloom. Special focus would be given to Tant saree, the specialty of the state, which in turn would increase the weavers’ earning (more…)