Handicraft Export to Bring in US$600Mln this Year

Handicraft exports may generate some US$600 million in revenue in 2006 and reach US$1.2 billion in 2010, becoming one of the most valuable export items of Vietnam, according to the Trade Ministry.

 

In the past ten months of this year, outbound sales of handicrafts brought in $507 million, up 12.5 per cent on-year. Vietnamese handicrafts are now available in over 100 countries and territories worldwide.

 

The ministry, however, said the handicraft sector will face many challenges and not fulfill its target if it does not set up stable material zones in a timely fashion. Presently, most materials for handicraft making are imports or collected from nature.

  

The Industry Ministry plans to invest VND92.4 billion into the handicraft and small industry sector to promote their development in the 2006-15 period. Under this plan, the Red River Delta, home to the largest number of handicraft villages in the north, will be encouraged to incorporate these villages to boost the growth of labor-intensive occupations as well as the creation of new handicraft products utilizing local materials.

 

The central coastal region, which has abundant natural resources, will be used to supply materials, said the Ministry. The ministry plans to promote the creation of new handicraft products in the southeastern region, especially globally competitive items, while encouraging handicraft villages in the Mekong Delta to service tourism.

 

Vietnam now has 2,017 traditional handicraft villages employing around 11 million rural laborers.