Export Promotion Councils

EPC's are one of the leading organizations who work for the development of handicrafts industry. They are managed by govt.
bodies to make it more responsible and positive. Their various objectives aims at creating positive and healthy environment for
handicraft community and products in the international arena. In our EPCH section we have listed few of these bodies and
provided detailed information on their functioning and role.

Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC)

The driving force to magnify the elegance of handloom varieties with exquisite excellence.
(Sponsored by Ministry of Textiles, Government of India) Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC) functions as a non-profit making
company under section 25 of the Companies Act. The Memorandum and Articles of Association framed by the Council govern the company. It
is a statutory body constituted under The Ministry of Textiles, Government of India to promote the exports of all handloom products like
fabrics, home furnishings, carpets and floor coverings, etc. Constituted in the year of 1965 with 65 members and today it has a membership
around 2000 spreading all over the country. The Handloom industry mainly exports fabrics, bed linen, table linen, toilet and kitchen linen,
towels, curtains, cushions and pads, tapestries and upholstery's, carpets and floor coverings, etc. The HEPC functions with the main objective
to provide all kind of support and guidance to the Indian Handloom exporters and the International buyers for trade promotion and
international marketing. With its headquarter at Chennai and regional offices at Mumbai and New Delhi, it is administered by an Executive
Committee consisting of elected representatives from the export trade, ex-officio members and nominated Government officials. The
committee is headed by Chairman, who holds his office for the period of two years along with Vice Chairman. The secretary (Executive
Director) of the council, anGovernment, assists the council to run the administration. Primary objectives of HEPC: Organizing participation in
the fairs, exhibitions and buyer-seller meets in India and Abroad. It aims to provide guidance, consultation and support to the handloom
exporters in view to promote handloom exports. Laying down standards of quality and packaging in respect of Indian Handlooms for export. It
approves agents, representatives or correspondence in foreign markets for continuous reporting of prices, market preferences and reception
accorded to Indian Handloom products.

COIR BOARD OF INDIA

Performing effective functions to promote the coir industry.
Coir Board is a statutory body established by the Government of India under a legislation enacted by the Parliament namely Coir Industry Act
1953 (45 of 1953) to promote Coir Industry in India as a whole. The main functions of the Board as laid down in Section 10 of the Coir
Industry Act are 1. Promotion of coir industry with all possible measures. a) Promoting exports of coir yarn and coir products and carrying on
propaganda for that purpose b) Regulating the production of husks, coir yarn and coir products under the supervision of the Central
Government by registering coir spindles and looms for manufacturing coir products. c) Undertaking, assisting or encouraging scientific,
technological and economic researches to maintain one or more research institutes d) Collecting statistics from manufacturers of and dealers
in coir products. It can also obtain such information from the other persons related to the coir industry. The publication of statistics so
collected or portions thereof or extracts therefrom e) Fixing grade standards and necessary inspection of coir fibre, coir yarn and coir products
f) Improving the marketing of coconut husk, coir fibre, coir yarn and coir products in India, preventing unfair competition g) Setting up or
assisting in the setting up of factories for the producers of coir products with the aid of power; h) Promoting cooperative organisation among
producers of husks, coir fibre and coir yarn and manufacturers of coir products (i) Ensuring remunerative returns to producers of husks, coir
fibre and coir yarn and manufacturers of coir products j) Licensing of retting places and warehouses and otherwise regulating the stocking
and sale of coir fibre, coir yarn and coir products both for the internal market and for exports k) Advising on all matters relating to the
development of the coir industry

The Carpet Export Promotion Council of India

A responsible authority to enhance the utility of carpet industry.
The Carpet Export Promotion Council Of India (CEPC) was set up by the Government Of India in 1982 with a view to promote the exports of
hand knotted carpets and other floor coverings. The council advises the government onxports promotion measures and helps the exporter's
community in bringing their problems and requirements to the notice of the government. It provides expertise in many spheres both for the
Indian exporters and foreign buyers. The council is a high profile body consisting of senior Trade Representatives and Government officials. It
provides the necessary assistance to the Indian exporters. It identifies the markets, provides financial assistance, sponsors participation in
fairs and exhibitions and also conducts publicity abroad. Regarding overseas buyers/importers, the CEPC locates the estimate suppliers and
provides credibility reports on Indian exporters. It also arranges buyer-seller meets and assists in trade disputes. To eradicate the incidence
of child labour from the carpet industry CEPC has adopted a label "KALEEN" This KALEEN label on carpets ensures that no child labour has
been used for the production of the carpet. The exporters are required to fulfill certain prerequisites to obtain this label. They have to
contribute % of the FOB value of their exports to the child welfare fund. The main objectives of adopting this label are: n Total eradication of
child labour. n Welfare of the weaver community n Education for the children with mid- day meal n Medicare of the weaver families n
Vocational training for the children with assured stipend.

Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC)

The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) was incorporated under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 on 22nd February 1978. The
council carries out its function as a nodal agency sponsored by the Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India. It holds the dual responsibility of
monitoring garment exports quotas and promotion of exports of readymade garments from India. AEPC acts as a catalyst for the Indian
Garment Exports. It organizes the Buyer Seller Meets, garment shows with sponsoring of the Trade Delegations and offers technical advice
and market briefs etc. It also provides service to its more than 35,000 registered exporter members in a specialized manner through its
committees and various sub-committees. AEPC's Executive Committee functioned through its various Sub-Committees including, Quota
Advisory Committee, Export Promotion Committee, Exhibition Advisory Committee, and Finance and Budget Sub Committee. It organises
variety of fairs including India and International Garment Fair twice a yearat Delhi, India Knit Fair at Tripur, the knitwear capital of India,
Men's Fashion Fair at Mumbai, the commercial capital of India. AEPC runs Apparel Training and Design Centres at places like Delhi, Mumbai,
Tirupur, Bangalore, Chennai, Jaipur and Hyderabad. These centres impart training and thereafter even help the trained to get placed in
various industries at shop-floor level to improve the efficiency and productivity of the Garment Industry. AEPC also provides rich library to its
members as well as research scholars. Its grandiose project of a world class Trade Mart cum Exhibition Complex in Delhi is in the anvil. It will
house exclusive showrooms of exporters as much as hundred and an auditorium plus a permanent "Exhibition Complex". The council
administers the Export Entitlement Policy of the Government of India. It has also been authorized to allot quotas to exporters and issue
Certificate

Export Promotion Council For Handicrafts

Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) has been established under the Exim Policy of Govt. of India in 1986-87 and is a non-profit
organisation. The organisation works under the administrative control of O/o Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles,
Govt. of India and governed by Policies of Ministry of Textiles. It is an apex body which projects India's image abroad as a reliable supplier of
high quality of handicraft goods & services. It also insures various measures keeping in view of observance of international standards and
specifications. The Council has created necessary infrastructure as well as marketing and information facilities, which are availed both by the
member exporters and importers. The membership of the council rose from 35 in year 1985-86 to 6873 in 2002-03 EPCH Council The Council
is run and managed by team of professionals headed by Executive Director. The Committee of Administration consist of eminent exporters,
professionals and senior Govt. officials. The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts has a rarest distinction of being considered as MODEL
COUNCIL which is self sustaining and where all the promotional activities are self financed Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair Indian Handicrafts
and Gifts Fair, today has become a show window of Indian handicrafts among all the leading overseas buyers need no introduction.