MANITEX : MoUs inked with 4 firms

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 11: In what could prove to be a major boost to the State’s handloom and textiles, four MoUs were signed today with four firms based outside the State at the ongoing Manipur Textiles Expo (MANITEX) 2025.
According to the MoUs signed today on the fourth day of the five-day, it was agreed that the non-local firms/buyers would purchase handloom and textiles products of the State worth Rs 4.90 crore in a year.
Handloom and Textiles Director Elangbam Jiten signed the MoUs with Yuka Ishitake of Artisav Expotrade Jaipur Private Ltd; Krishna Mehta, Creative Director, Krishan Mehta Studio, Exporter cum Designer; Pratima Pandey of Prama by Pratima Pandey and Arjun Bhorali, Business Head, NESHILP.
The MoUs agreed that products worth Rs 4.90 crore produced by weavers and artisans of Manipur would be exported  to foreign countries in a year in the first stage.
Yuka Ishitake of Artisav Expotrade Jaipur Private Ltd said that they have seen varied textiles, handloom and handicraft items produced by weavers and artisans of Manipur at MANITEX 2025.
She said that many of these items are quite fascinating and beautiful.
Yuka Ishitake said that she would buy several items produced by weavers and artisans of Manipur with local motifs, and re-design them to make them attractive to Japanese buyers.
Handloom and Textiles Director E Jiten said that MoUs have been signed today with four firms/buyers representing 16 foreign countries on purchasing several items produced by weavers and artisans of Manipur.
Thus MANITEX 2025 has provided a big opportunity to local weavers and artisans to sell their products to foreign countries, he said and added that the signing of MoUs is a big moment for local weavers and artisans.
Some of the items in which buyers from outside the State have shown interest are cotton sari, lengyan phi, home furnishing items, silk fabrics and bamboo products, Jiten said.
He said that exporting handloom and textile items to the international market can definitely alleviate the State’s economy.
He said that MANITEX 2025 has achieved its purpose with the signing of the four MoUs.
Apart from showing them textiles, handloom and handicraft items at the expo, the buyers from outside the State were taken to the villages/workplaces of weavers and artisans and they were shown the natural process of weaving and making handicraft items, Jiten said.
They also interacted with the local weavers, he added.
The Handloom and Textiles Director said that the buyers from outside the State have now realised the entire process of weaving and making handicraft items in Manipur is natural.
He further stated that all the products produced by weavers and artisans of Manipur will retain their original motifs.