HP to promote its art, handicraft in international market

In a bid to promote its art and handicraft in the international market, Himanchal Pradesh Government will participate in two global trade fairs in the UK and Canada next year. Addressing a meeting of the State Handicraft and Handlooms Corporation Ltd here, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Saturday said "the state has rich variety of handicrafts and handlooms which could find a good market internationally. While Birmingham fair is scheduled to be organised from February 1 to 5, the gift show at Toronto will be held from January 25-28 next year," Dhumal said.

He said that the state government would gift a Chamba handkerchief to Queen Elizabeth who is likely to inaugurate the Common Wealth games at New Delhi in 2010. The Chief Minister said exquisite handicrafts and handloom items manufactured in the state would get an exposure in the foreign markets as a brand in a big way in the proposed fairs, where orders of foreign nationals would also be booked.