Mangaluru: The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), in a strategic collaboration with SI-8 The Venture Studio, the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC), and Indian Bank, hosted a comprehensive awareness seminar on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Held at the KCCI Meeting Hall in Mangaluru, the event focused on “Export Facilitation, Role & Services of EPCH in Leveraging Overseas Marketing Platform,” aiming to provide a structured roadmap for regional entrepreneurs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and artisans looking to scale their businesses globally.
Welcoming the gathering, KCCI Vice-President Shri Divakar Pai Kochikar underscored India’s booming export potential, noting that the handicrafts sector alone drives merchandise exports worth over ₹33,000 crore while sustaining more than 70 lakh artisans nationwide. He highlighted the untapped global potential of Coastal Karnataka’s rich cultural legacy, citing geographical indications and traditions like the GI-tagged Udupi Cotton Saree, the bell-metal crafts of Mangaluru, ritualistic metalwork, exquisite wood and stone sculpting, and thriving women-led coir and cottage industries. Aligning with this vision, Shri Vishwas Shishir, Chairman of the KCCI Startups Sub-Committee, described the seminar as the foundation of a long-term partnership with EPCH to systematically cultivate export-oriented businesses across Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and adjacent districts.
During the expert sessions, Shri K. L. Ramesh, Chairman of the Handicrafts & Carpet Sector Skill Council, stressed that maintaining strict quality standards and executing sharp marketing strategies are vital for international trade success. He particularly lauded the growth of Mangaluru’s coir handicraft exports while highlighting specialized training setups, artisan support programs, and the critical role NGOs and buying agents play in smooth trade logistics. Adding to the technical discourse, Smt. P. L. Sreedevi, Southern Regional Head of EPCH, mapped out the council’s extensive resource umbrella, which spans technical upgradation, international exhibitions, buyer-seller networking meets, and dedicated GI-tag promotions to give local exporters a definitive edge in foreign markets.
Addressing the critical aspect of financial security, Shri Vikash Kumar Prasad, Branch Head of ECGC Mangaluru, explained how the corporation safeguards exporters against credit risks, default, and overseas buyer insolvency through highly cost-effective insurance policies. He also spotlighted ECGC’s pivotal role as the nodal agency for the Government of India’s newly introduced RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) measures, designed to mitigate financial losses stemming from the ongoing West Asia crisis. Complementing this, Shri Suraj Prasanna Das, Zonal Manager of Indian Bank, Mysuru, detailed lucrative central funding schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Startup India, Stand Up India, and tailored MSME financing, emphasizing that collateral-free loans of up to ₹10 crore are highly accessible under the central CGTMSE scheme. The insightful seminar, which saw vibrant participation from established exporters, budding entrepreneurs, and academic delegates, drew to a successful close with a vote of thanks delivered by KCCI Honorary Secretary, Shri Ashwin Pai Maroor.
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