Bhubaneswar: The promotional activities of the Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha has resulted in a sharp rise in the export of handloom and textile products.

The state exported handloom and textile products worth Rs 398 crore during the last five years. The export, which was a meagre Rs 10 lakh in 2012-13, went up gradually over the years and reached Rs 240 crore in 2016-17, said handloom and textiles minister Snehangini Chhuria.

"We have achieved the growth because of export promotion measures by our department," she said. Odisha is famous for its handloom products manufactured by weavers. The government identified over 1.03 crore weavers, according to the handloom census in 2009-10.

Prominent among the export promotion measures was the establishment of an International Marketing Cell and awareness camps across the state by the Handloom Export Promotion Council. The council has initiated steps for registration of weavers for export through it. The government has also introduced the Handloom Mark and India Handloom Brand in the state to promote export of handloom and textile goods.

National award recipients and weavers, who have registered through India Handloom Brand, are being given opportunities to take part in international exhibitions, said Chhuria.

The other major export promotion measures include buyer-seller meets, participation in international and national handloom expos and providing financial assistance for geographical indication registration and brand building.

For skill upgradation, the government is training weavers on designs that have international demand and providing financial and technical assistance to produce products through export promotion schemes.

As part of its efforts to promote the state's handloom products, the government recently decided that the uniforms of teachers would be made out of this material. Sources said apart from helping the branding of these products, it would also augment revenue. All the concerned departments had been asked to cooperate.