The government is likely to intensify marketing efforts to boost export of craft products after it finalises the draft handicraft policy.
Under the initiative, all the commercial missions of Bangladesh abroad will display the country's handicraft products for marketing in their respective destinations.
Besides, the handicrafts will also be displayed in all posh hotels and international airports in Bangladesh as part of the effort to introduce the products to the foreigners.
Agreements with different developed countries on preferential duty benefit, arrangement of exclusive trade fairs and participating in an increased number of international trade fairs are also included in the draft policy.
The ministry of commerce, in a recent meeting with the stakeholders, decided to finalise the much-awaited handicraft policy.
"We are hopeful about finalising the handicraft policy soon to help boost export of handicrafts," senior secretary of the ministry Hedayetullah Al Mamoon told the FE.
Mr Mamoon said the government is very much positive about providing support to the handicraft sector of the country.
S U Haider, president of Bangladesh Handicraft Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BHMEA), said his association is happy to learn that the government has finally taken a pragmatic decision to finalise the policy.
"The sector is expanding in an unplanned manner for lack of policy," he said adding that small entrepreneurs, especially those from rural areas, aren't getting logistics.
Formulation of the policy will be a boost to the sector, he said.
Calling upon the authorities concerned not to delay in formulating the policy further, he said.
"If we get proper policy support, the industry will grow more rapidly," he said.
"There is an immense demand for local handicrafts in the internationally reputed companies; aggressive marketing of which will give a big boost to the country's export earnings along with creating job opportunities of millions of people," Mr Haider added.
According to the insiders, the sector has the potential to create employment for more than 5.0 million people.
The proposed policy has suggested that the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) allocate plots for the handicraft producers at its industrial parks.
Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) will take necessary initiatives to develop a virtual e-shop to help industry insiders market handicrafts and appoint experts to develop design and colour and finishing that are among other provisions of the policy.
EPB data showed that export earnings from the handicraft sector amounted to US$ 7.50 million in the fiscal year (FY) 2013-14, up from US$ 6.16 million one year back. In the last eight months of the current fiscal, the sector had a total earning of $ 4.97 million.
Bangladesh exports handicrafts mostly to the European Union, the USA, Australia, Canada, Japan, the UAE and Hong Kong, he added.
The most exportable items are baskets, clay products such as terracotta and terracotta tiles, jute shopping bags and other jute goods.
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