CEPC Chairman highlights policy priorities under ‘Handmade in India’ vision with PM Modi

Srinagar, Nov 5: Chairman, Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) Kuldeep Raj Wattal recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a high-level interaction convened exclusively for select Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) and their Chairpersons, said a press release.

The meeting was also attended by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman. “It was a matter of great pride for the Indian handmade carpet industry that CEPC was among the few EPCs invited to the meeting, and notably, was given the first opportunity to speak before the Hon’ble Prime Minister — a recognition of the sector’s significant contribution to India’s rural economy and exports,” said the statement.

During the interaction, Wattal presented a brief on the handmade carpet sector, which employs over 2.5 million artisans, mostly women, across rural clusters such as Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Jaipur, Panipat, Agra, and Srinagar. He outlined key policy recommendations to strengthen the industry, including grant of Very Special Status, Focus Product Scheme benefits, extension of interest subvention, global branding through “Handmade in India – Crafting Stories” campaign, export promotion support, relief under Section 43B(h), and reduction in ECGC premium burden to ease credit costs for MSME exporters. The CEPC Chairman emphasized that the sector, which contributes nearly USD 2 billion in exports annually and holds over 40 per cent of the global handmade carpet market, is poised to lead India’s next national transformation — the “Handicraft Revolution” — empowering rural India and aligning with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal for Local. Shri Wattal expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister for his visionary leadership and personal attention to the handmade carpet sector’s aspirations, assuring that the industry stands committed to advancing India’s global leadership in sustainable and handmade excellence, it further added.