AGARTALA, January1 (TIWN): Industries & Commerce minister Tapan Chakraborty inaugurated the 15 day long national handloom expo 2015 sponsored by development commissioner for handlooms, ministry of textiles, government of India and organized by directorate of handloom handicrafts and sericulture, government of Tripura at Purbasha office ground, here today. The national handloom expo 2015 will continue till January 15.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion the minister said, “The expo will not only promote Handloom products of different parts of Country, but also enable our State Weavers to interact and exchange their skills, techniques, cost effectives and above all to study on recent trend of design pattern & colour schemes, prevailing in contemporary markets on different States of the Country”.

He said handlooms was the second biggest sector in terms of people employed after agriculture and it required due priority, efforts are being made to improve the plight of the huge number of workers dependent on the sector. Around 19 stalls were set up and the participating states include Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Madhya Pradesh. The State Government is making efforts to provide design development, dyeing and other assistance to weavers at the same place in handloom clusters established in the State, he added.

Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation Dr. Prafullajit Sinha, Member of Tripura Legislative Assembly Gopal Chandra Roy, Principal Secretary of Industries & Commerce Lok Ranjan and other dignitaries were present.