PANAJI: The State-owned Goa Handicrafts Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited, the organisation promoting local handicrafts, has decided to go in for public-private partnership on a trial basis to lease out three of its premier handicraft outlets.

Nikhil Desai, Managing Director of the corporation, said they were trying to move out from non-core activities such as running emporia, and would concentrate on its core activities of promoting artisans.

Consultants would be appointed to work out the details. The three emporia comprise two from the capital city and one from Calangute in north coastal tourist belt.

Deputy Speaker and Chairperson of the corporation Victoria Fernandes said the Board of Directors at its meeting on Friday decided on the ambitious plans to market Goa's traditional handicrafts under the brand name "Aparant Emporium" in major metros.

Outlets had been opened in Delhi and Agra and proposals were in pipeline to open more such emporia in Mumbai, Kolkata, etc.

The plan was to appoint consultants to workout a comprehensive handicrafts promotion and marketing strategy for State's handicrafts across the country.

An ambitious project to establish " Goa Haat" in the capital city as a display centre for traditional handicrafts was also being taken up.

In the face of stiff competition from handicrafts from other States, the local handicrafts were seen to be lagging behind in terms of promotion in the State, Ms. Fernandes said.

Goan handicrafts include sea-shell items, paper-mâché, clay-items, terracotta, jute items and others.

Raising capital

To support its various plans, the corporation has resolved to double its authorised capital from Rs. 4 crore.

It would approach the State Government requesting release of funds to contribute to its share capital.

Ms. Fernandes said the funds would be utilised to open beach-side emporia in popular tourist places, to undertake extensive documentation of local and traditional Goan handicrafts and to launch an interactive website dedicated to handicrafts promotion and marketing worldwide

Steel stockyard

A consignment agent for Steel Authority of India Limited, the corporation recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a stockyard at Verna in south Goa for the benefit of iron and steel consuming industries.

"Our plan is to make available most of the SAIL's steel items in the State for the benefit of the local industry," Ms. Fernandes said.

Ms. Fernandes said the corporation intended to make an aggressive foray in the local market by entering into tie-ups with other manufacturers and offering good quality steel at most competitive rates.

The corporation intended to open two more steel yards in Mapusa and in Margao and the process of identification of a suitable site was currently under way, she added.

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