Chief Minister opens National Crafts Fair in Ahmedabad(video)

Ahmedabad, 21 February 2014

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said that handicraft have for ages reflected a nation’s glorious heritage and the state of economy. Linking handicraft with tourism has huge employment potential in India, he said.

Inaugurating the week-long ‘Garvi Gurjari’ National Craft Fair & Summit-2012 jointly organized by Gujarat Government’s Industries Department and INDEXT-C here, Mr. Modi cited Gujarat’s example of how linking annual winter festival of Rann Utsav with promoting traditional arts and crafts of the Kutch region had started paying dividends. He pointed out that India’s coastal belt is particularly rich in arts and crafts skill.

Mr. Modi said that Handicraft Summit held greater historical importance and social relevance than even Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summits (VGGIS), it being linked to the livelihood of millions of craftsmen.

He said that there is need for global branding and positioning and data mapping, to ensure the nation’s traditional arts and crafts do not become extinct. There is also need for developing a mechanism to improve quality, technology and materials.

Mr. Modi said that arts and crafts have been a big source of self-employment, passed on to the next generation through family traditions. History is also replete with hundreds of cases when Imperialists had vainly tried to finish India’s arts and crafts by cutting the thumbs of Indian craftsmen after establishing their expansionist rule.

He welcomed over 600 craftsmen from all over India at the venue of the Summit displaying their skill in various arts and crafts. About 400 craftsmen of Gujarat have set up their stalls at the pavilion, besides over 500 Business2Business (B2B) meetings on the anvil.

Mr. Modi felicitated three master craftsmen Hasmukh Valjibhai for woolen shawls, Ruksana Kasam Khatri for superfine ‘Gaji’ silk and Nilu Patel for wall paper pieces, and presented them with cash awards of Rs.25,000, citation in copper plaque and shawl to each.

Welcoming the delegates, Cottage Industries Minister Saurabh Patel said that arrangement has been made at the venue for providing the latest designs and information about how to improve skill and market products.

Goa’s Industries Minister Mahadev Naik said that although world famous for tourism,their government is also keen to provide inputs to improve skills of their craftsmen.

INDEXT-C Secretary Arun Solanki proposed a vote of thanks.

Prominent among those present on the occasion included Vidhan Sabha Speaker Mangubhai Patel, Minister of State for Cottage Industries Vasan Ahir, Chief Secretary Varesh Sinha, Industries Additional Chief Secretary D.J. Pandian, CEPT President Bimal Patel and INDEXT-C CEO C.J. Patel, besides a large number of buyers and sellers and aficionados of arts and crafts.