GOALPARA, Feb 24 � The 14-day Special Handloom Expo-2014 sponsored by the Development Commissioner, Handlooms under the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, organised by ARTFED, Assam which started from February 20 here at the DCC & I ground was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner Preetom Saikia in the presence of a large gathering.
Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Saikia said that handloom expos are organised with the prime objective of providing common platforms for weavers and local artisans for marketing their products. He also said that local weavers and artisans should take advantage of the special handloom expo to showcase their products and skill and in this regard he also emphasised the need to popularise among buyers specialised traditional handloom products representing their own region/State.
He also thanked the ARTFED for coming forward with such an arrangement to support the local artisans and weavers to enable them market their handloom products under a single roof.
Guest of honour, Asst director Kulen Deka, spoke on the common marketing platform that such events can create to provide direct support services to the weavers and highlighted the works done for the economic development of the weavers. He also requested the authorities to organise a mega national event to showcase and popularise handloom products among the people.
Meanwhile, general manager, ARTFED MC Deka who explained the objective of the programme also said that ARTFED has been working tirelessly to fulfil the socio-economic needs of the local weavers and artisans by not only creating employment opportunities but also promoting handloom activities in the State. He also said that such an event will encourage weavers and artisans to explore new markets outside the State as varieties of traditional products which are rare to find are showcased by representative weavers from other States in such a mega event and also the weavers/artisans learn new things following interaction with their contemporaries from other parts of the country. He also added that such expos will also help the weavers to overcome stiff competition faced by their products from machine-made goods and fabrics.
The event saw participation from six States viz., Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, West Bengal, Rajasthan, New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh with about 30 stalls � all giving an ethnic flavour of that particular State and also getting a warm response from the local people.
