Visakhapatnam, Jan.30 (ANI):

The National Jute Board (NJB) is hosting a week-long fair here to promote the sale of eco-friendly jute products and to provide a market for the small artisans.

A variety of jute products, including colourful mats and carpets, clutches, handbags, shopping bags, slippers, men’s wallets, tablemats, file folders are on display at the fair.

Jute, which is also known as ‘the Golden Fibre’ is considered to be the second most important fibre after cotton due to its reasonable price and eco-friendly attributes.

A customer, Vishal, said that such exhibitions should be held more often, as they provide an insight about eco-friendly products.

“Such kinds of exhibition should be held in all states of India, especially in capital and metropolitan cities, so that people can know about it and can purchase these products and commodities, as they are more eco-friendly,” said Vishal.

Participating craftsmen expressed their delight over the increase in sales of their products.

A shopkeeper, Abhijit Ghosh, said: “Earlier, our financial condition was not good and the National Jute Board is supporting us. It was getting difficult for us to sustain our livelihood. With this particpation of the National Jute Board, our economic condition has improved,” said Ghosh.

In all, 23 stalls have been put up by jute artisans and manufacturers.

Such fairs not only bring the craftsmen into limelight, but also provide an opportunity to the people to find out more about the arts and crafts of other regions of the country. (ANI)

source: http://www.newstrackindia.com / Home> Economy / by ANI / Visakhapatnam, Wednesday-January 30th, 2013