Items on display at the Ranchi office of the development commissioner (handicraft) on Thursday. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, July 15: Handicraft items made in Jharkhand will soon find their way to the tech space.

With an aim to find a larger export market, especially an international one, the Union ministry of textiles has developed a portal to showcase and sell handicraft items made by the artisans of the state.

The portal, www.handicraftdesignbank.com, has been designed by National Centre for Design and Product Development, an apex organisation under the Union textiles ministry. Likely to be launched next month, the portal aims to cater to the changing needs of the customers and accordingly design products to suit their taste.

It can also be accessed by the state handicraft department to upload details about latest products. Prices will also be mentioned.

The textiles ministry sent a letter to the Ranchi office of the development commissioner for handicraft two days ago, asking it collect photographs of new handicraft items, — mainly dokra, bamboo, jute and brass metal products — develop CDs and forward the same to the Centre. These CDs will be uploaded on the portal.

B. Jena, the handicraft promotion officer, marketing and service extension centre, Ranchi office of the development commissioner (handicraft), said the initiative was part of a marketing and export promotion scheme under the 11th Five-Year Plan.

“The idea is to open a window for promoting awareness among consumers about latest designs and varieties available in the handicraft sector. At present, we are in the process of collecting new creations. In this way, we will be able to provide regular design inputs to the export market and thus carve out a niche for our products,” he added.

Jena added that 5,000 registered artisans had been roped in to design a new collection. “Our artisans have already started work,” he added.

One of the artisans, Phulmani Toppo, an expert in jute craft, said she was excited about seeing her creations on the website. “I am designing items like dining table set,” she said.

This is not all. National Centre for Design and Product Development is also looking to tap the Japanese market. Last month, it signed an MoU with several Japanese design institutes that will help in the promotion of Jharkhand’s handicraft items.

“We want more exposure in the international market. Japan, which has a number of leading design institutes, will help us do so,” Jena said.