IMPHAL: A state delegation led by commerce and industries minister Govindas Konthoujam left Imphal to participate in an international-level fair in Tokyo with the objective to draw global attention to the state handloom and handicraft products in view of India's ambitious 'Look East Policy'.
The team, comprising the minister, Manipur commerce and industries' principal secretary O Nabakishore and the department's director left the state capital on Monday for the three-day Tokyo fair, beginning on Wednesday.
The products of three handloom and handicrafts units-Manipur Apex Handloom Weavers and Handicraft Artiste Cooperative Society, Manipur Rural Industrial Centre and VV Enterprise-will be displayed at the Manipur outlet in the fair, sources said.
Besides exhibiting the indigenous and traditional craft items of Manipur, the state delegates will also discuss different aspects, including marketing of such items with other nations' representatives, the sources added.
Next month, another international handloom and handicraft fair christened 'SAITEX 2012' will be held in Johannesburg, in which selected entrepreneurs and weavers from Manipur will display their wares.
At a state handicrafts' award conferring ceremony held a few weeks back in Imphal, Govindas said owing to the lack of fully developed industries in the state, the need of the hour is to develop handloom and handicrafts.
To ensure meeting the growing demand of handloom and handicrafts products of the state, the young minister emphasized the need to use scientific technologies in sync with the tradition and culture of the state.
At the same time the units, individual weavers and artisans should maintain the quality of their products, he said. Though Manipur stands third in the field of handloom and handicrafts in the nation, the sector's units are facing problems in meeting the increasing demand for their products.