New Delhi, Nov 04: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today proposed an action plan to achieve quantum growth in carpet making and offered to set up secretariat of the world forum of handmade carpets in the country.

"I would like the Ministry of Textiles along with others to prepare a time-bound action plan to achieve a quantum growth in India's handmade carpet industry, with a specific focus on increasing employment," Vajpayee said inaugurating the first world conference on handmade carpets.
He said India would be happy to offer space and other such facilities to house the secretariat of the world forum for handmade carpets proposed by world industry leaders.
The purpose of such a secretariat would be to provide training, design technology and other infrastructure support required by handmade carpet industry to contribute to growth in world trade, he said adding government was required to work out methods for establishment of a raw material bank.
Around 500 delegates from 20 countries are participating in the two-day conference, organised by Carpet Export Promotion Council and Ministry of Textiles.
India ranks first in terms of volume and third in terms of value in the world carpet industry, Textiles Minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said adding the country's total share was pegged at 17.69 per cent of USD1926 million global market of hand-knotted carpets.
Bureau Report