Like gold tasted by fire of international demand the handicraft artisans participating in the 16th International Guwahati Trade Fair (IGTF) has come out wiser and purer. “This was not an ordinary fair but actually an international forum where we competed directly with high class handicraft products from countries like Thailand, Nepal, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Egypt,” confesses National Award winning handicraft artisan Manendra Deka, one of the participants of IGTF. Deka further adds: “After this eye-opening experience many of our artisans are now getting ready for international market with competitive designs.”

Many thinks that IGTF has come as a boon for local entrepreneurs who get opportunity to interact with foreign buyers and experts regularly during the fair period. Around 200 established self-help groups, NGOs and master crafts-persons from across the country participated in the Sourcing Show organized by Industries & Trade Fair Association of Assam (ITFAA) in collaboration with Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Minsitry of Textiles, Government of India for the third consecutive time under the banner of 16th IGTF from February 27 to March 13 at the Assam Engineering Institute ground, Chandmari.

The organizers in order to educate the artisans held regular interaction meetings with foreign participants for exchange of technical knowhow. Visitors to the Sourcing pavilion also appreciated the artisans’ stalls. “We have visited many handicraft fairs but this is the first time such international quality stalls are witnessed. This has surely given moral encouragement to the poor artisans,” says Rajarshi Deka, a student of Cotton College, Guwahati.

The show has opened many eyes about schemes and wonderful initiatives undertaken by the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India for the uplift of poor artisans. S Dkhar, Regional Director at the (NER) Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles during his inaugural speech in the trade fair said that the Sourcing Show is organized during the International Guwahati Trade Fair to provide international exposure to the local artisans. “IGTF along with the recently held ‘Made In North East India’ exhibition in Thailand, organized in collaboration with our department, has given positive boost to local artisans. We hope to support more such exhibitions organized by ITFAA for the enlistment of handicraft artisans,” the senior official added.

Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner Syed Masud Mahmood Khundoker, who visited the Sourcing Show on March 5 said that improved air connectivity between Northeast India and Bangladesh would foster unprecedented growth in trade relations between the two countries giving a big boost to handicraft sector. The senior diplomat also requested ITFAA and DC (Handicraft), Ministry of Textiles to organize ‘Made In North East India’ show in Bangladesh to boost the handicraft industry.

‘Made In North East India’, a stand alone show on handicraft of the Northeast was recently organized in Bangkok, Thailand by ITFAA bringing lots of laurels to the hanicraft industry of the region.

Meenakshi Das