NEWS BRIEFS Weaver Services and Design Resource Cen- ter will be set up in Kullu district: Textile Minister Shri Piyush Goyal calls for proactive initiatives to modernize the design, quality, packaging and marketing for better prices for products in interna- tional market to benefit weavers Announces setting up of Weaver Services and Design Resource Center in Kulludistrict of Himachal Pradesh to encourage attractive handicraft products of the State Addresses “Seva & Samarpan Abhiyan” Programme with Artisans at Atal Sadan in Kullu Union Minister for Commerce & Indus- try & Textiles Shri Piyush Goyal has said that Himachal Pradesh possess- es tremendous talent and potential with magical hands that are weaving beautiful art products. He said there is a need to work proactively by the State & Central Ministries to bring these products into the international market in a befitting manner. Shri Goyal announced that a Weaver Services and Design Resource Cen- ter will be set up in Kullu district of the State to encourage attractive handicraft products of the state be- sides providing a better platform for export of these products in the inter- national market. The Minister was speaking at an interaction programme with handicrafts and handloom arti- sans organized under 'Seva & Samar- pan Abhiyan' to commemorate the golden jubilee year of statehood of Himachal Pradesh, in Kullu on 26th of last month. The Minister said that Himachal Pradesh had immense potential for handicrafts and skill up-gradation of artisans, modern equipments and training would be imparted to prepare qualitative new designs in the Weav- ers Service Center. He said that moreattention was needed to modernize the design, quality, packaging and mar- keting so that the weavers get better price for their products in the interna- tional market. Union Minister said that Himachal's cap is recognized interna- tionally today and there was a need to redesign the same in line with the international requirements in coldest places in the world. NCM-OCTOBER 2021 74The Union Minister suggested to or- ganize district-wise exhibitions of these products in big cities, people associated with the textile industry and five star hotels so that their brand- ing could be done at national and in- ternational level. He asked the weav- ers to get their trademark for which the central government had reduced the registration fee by 80 percent.