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Dimapur, May 9 (EMN): In a move that will help indigenous products made of cane and bamboo, textiles, accessories, etc. from the region available to millions of buyers from across the world via online, the North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation (NEHHDC) has partnered with Etsy and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support small and traditional artisans from the Northeast.
The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) updated that Etsy, a global e-commerce marketplace for unique and creative goods, to support small sellers, weavers and artisans by providing them with market access and enablement support.
It said artisans from all eight north-eastern states namely Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura will receive a fixed amount of free ad credits as a part of this programme.
As part of the MoU, Etsy will work with the NEHHDC to develop enablement programme, specifically designed for artisans from the Northeast including modules on online selling and entrepreneurship and the opportunity to access a wider market for their products.
The ministry also stated that Esty aims to equip artisans, creators and small entrepreneurs in the Indian handicrafts sector with important tools and resources to start and manage online businesses, and it will provide digital enablement services to these sellers and conduct training workshops to familiarise them with Etsy and how to sell on the marketplace.
“It’s a key focus for us to promote the indigenous crafts of the Northeast region and create economic opportunities for craftspeople. There are more than 21 lakh weavers and 14.5 lakh artisans in the region, but the right kind of market linkage has been missing. This association with Etsy can be a game changer for our artisans and ensure that they are able to explore entrepreneurship on their own terms and reach both domestic and global buyers,” Brigadier Rajiv Kumar Singh Managing Director, NEHHDC, was quoted as saying,
“There is global appreciation for ‘Made in India’ products and we want to enable artisans and craftspeople from the all the states of the North East to be a part of our community of 5.5 million sellers and use our platform to showcase the intricacy, the beauty, and the quality of their art to audiences – and buyers – across the world,” said Ross LaJeunesse, VP, of Public Policy and Advocacy, Etsy.