Artfed employees display export quality muga cloth before handloom and textile minister Hemo Prova Saikia in the city on Saturday. Picture by UB Photos

Jan 11: The Assam Apex Weavers and Artisans Co-operative Federation Ltd (Artfed) will set up a regional marketing complex at Rehabari, which will have the facility for launching new products of Assam handwoven textiles and also have a ramp for holding fashion contests.

Managing director of Artfed .. Rana Patgiri said the North Eastern Council (NEC) has given administrative approval for the construction of a regional marketing complex which will give an impetus to the handlooms and handicrafts industry.

The total cost of the complex will be Rs 602 lakh and have three floors. “This will be a permanent place for launching new products of handwoven textiles, the first of its kind in the city” said Patgiri, before leaving for Germany to participate in a textile fair.

Construction would start next month and would be completed in about two years’ time. The complex would have a craft library, he said. The complex would also have a ramp where fashion contests on handwoven textiles can be held. The Artfed is the apex-level co-operative federation in the handicraft and handlooms sector in Assam.

The Artfed will organise a crafts bazar at the Assam Engineering Institute field from February 4-13 wherein crafts persons from all over the region will participate. A special handloom expo will be held at Dispur from February 8-20.

Patgiri said Artfed has submitted a project to the Centre for setting up a textile park at Paschim Boragaon at a cost of Rs 811.78 lakh.

He said a Computer Aided Design (CAD) centre would be set up at its head office to develop designs in tune with the prevailing trends in the market. The centre will open next month, which will then tie up with different production units for upgrading their design, colour combination and patterns.

The existing showroom at Dispur has been converted into an air-conditioned one. A showroom at Borjhar has also been opened recently.

“We are introducing a new product line and catering to a niche market,” Patgiri.

Artfed has also been enrolled as a member by Handloom Export Promotion Council, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts and All India Federation of Co-operative Spinning Mills.

It has also got membership of international business forum of the Indo-German chamber of commerce for extending its business in the global market.

He said Artfed has created demand of handwoven muga and eri silk in the global market by participating in Mini India Promotion in Cape Town and Incredible India Exhibition at Malaysia.

Patgiri said it has got orders from Malaysia for supplying curtains in silk jute, poly silk jute and cushion cover. Export orders have also been received from South Africa for supply of dyed plain mulberry silk and eri quilt.