Bhubaneswar, Nov. 22: Small artisans and entrepreneurs making artworks can export their items through couriers if the state government could ensure quality certification of small handicraft products.

Director general of foreign trade A.K. Pujari today said that the necessary provision was there, but the state government must come forward.

Speaking here at an open house meet with exporters, Pujari said: “The customs authorities are ready to co-operate, but the quality certification initiative should come from the state governments.”

He said that e-commerce had become an easy option for small-time exporters. Artisans, individually or in a group, could create their own portals to promote their goods. But the quality of the products needed to be certified by the authorities in the state.

Pujari narrated the experience of artisans of Kutch district in Gujarat where small artisans are sending the products through couriers and earning good money. This could be done here, he said. Many art objects from Odisha made of stone, wood, silk and metal have good demand outside and they can be exported through courier service.

Explaining the process chief commissioner central excise customs and service tax Sashi Minj said: “We expect that the products should get quality assurance from well-known organisations like Bureau of Indian Standard or International Standardisation Organisation so that while buying the products, the buyers have no second thought. But it will take some time to get these products under that regime.”

“We have quality artisans in Odisha and they create wonderful objects which have international market and export potential,’’ she added.

Panchanan Dash, secretary of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, said: “The department has already received, processed and awarded applications for quality certification in the export sector, but steps will be taken to woo the artisans and handicraft manufacturers to provide them opportunity to export items through couriers.’’

Bijay Kumar Parida, a national award-winning artist who works in his studio from Gangotri Nagar on the city outskirts said: “We were not aware of such a scheme, but as quality is our forte. We will certainly use this opportunity to export pattachitra paintings through couriers.’’