Indian crafted works are adored overall for their predominant quality, assortment, and magnificence. The product of workmanship things from India is a huge piece of our economy as it utilizes a large number of individuals. The business is spread all over India, with more than 67,000 entrepreneurs making craftsmanship things for send out in India.

North of 7,000,000 territorial craftsmans work all year to get ready handiwork things for send out. Their astonishing craftsmanship is pursued in both the homegrown and worldwide business sectors. Nonetheless, there are a few tax regulations, methodology, and enlistments organizations need to finish before they trade workmanship things.

A Snapshot of Indian Handicraft Export

India exported handicraft items worth $3.5 billion in FY 2019–2020, and the value of exports split according to various segments are as follows:

• Woodwares – $420.45 million
• Embroidered or crocheted goods – $320.51 million
• Miscellaneous – $517.68 million
• Hand-printed textiles – $154.96 million
• Imitation jewellery – $94.08 million
• Art metal wares – $250.52 million

The Major Destinations for Exported Handicraft Items from India are as follows:

1. United States of America
2. United Arab Emirates
3. Germany
4. United Kingdom
5. France 
6. Latin American countries
7. Italy
8. Netherlands
9. Canada 
10. Australia

When it comes to export potential, the following importing nations are popular for their love for Indian handicraft items:

1. Shawls and art wares: Saudi Arabia, Japan, the UK, and the USA
2. Hand-printed textiles and scarves: USA, UK, Canada, and Germany
3. Art metal wares: Germany, Italy, the UK, and the USA
4. Imitation jewellery: Saudi Arabia, Germany, the UK, and the USA
5. Wooden handicrafts: Germany, France, the UK, and the USA
6. Zari goods: Saudi Arabia, Japan, and the USA
7. Embroidered and crocheted items: Germany, the UK, Saudi Arabia, and the USA

The major states in India involved in the production of handicraft items for export are as follows:

1. Uttar Pradesh
2. Andhra Pradesh
3. Rajasthan
4. Gujarat
5. Kerala

The Indian government actively advertises handcrafted products for export. The incentive rates under the Merchandise Export Scheme for certain products were recently increased from 5% to 7%. A step like this will assist exporters of handcraft products in recovering their production expenses while maintaining competitive prices.

The government allocated a fund in September of last year for the development of Varanasi’s traditional crafts industry worth 2.8 crores. Additionally, the Ministry of Textiles’ benefit programmes have assisted thousands of artisans nationwide who were impacted by the COVID-19 problem.

Indian Handicraft Products for Export

The following are the two main categories into which Indian handmade products fall:

• Consumer goods for daily use
• Decorative items 

While the former deals with utensils, cutlery, textiles, and other consumer goods that may be used in our day-to-day lives, the latter revolves around purely decorative showpieces. The former are made all over the country using various materials, including ceramics and copper. However, the latter is a form of specialised art that requires very technical craftsmanship. 

As a result, such pieces tend to be more exquisite and expensive, making them an ideal product for export. The Indian handicrafts industry is a fairly extensive one that deals in the following products:

1. Cloth and floor paintings
2. Stone art
3. Handmade paper
4. Textiles – block and screen painting, batik, kalamkari, bandhani
5. Pottery
6. Jewellery
7. Metal artefacts

Handicraft items made in India are highly sought-after worldwide due to their individuality and great beauty. However, the industry is highly decentralized as it spreads across various rural settlements around India. Most economists view the handicraft industry as the second-largest employment-providing sector (following agriculture), as it employs millions of artisans both full-time and part-time.