India’s West Bengal government has initiated steps to bring the state’s traditional rural products, such as Khadi textiles, handicrafts, herbal goods, and other village industry items, to international markets through a structured export promotion strategy.

According to official sources, the West Bengal Khadi & Village Industries Board (WBKVIB) has invited proposals for appointing a consultant to design and execute this comprehensive strategy. As per the tender, the selected consultant will lead the development of an export facilitation program that will include capacity building, branding and certification support, and international trade linkage services tailored for micro and small-scale producers in the Khadi and village industries sector.

A senior official from the state’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises & Textiles (MSME&T) department stated that the key objective is to improve export readiness among rural artisans and entrepreneurs. The program will provide targeted training on export documentation, international packaging and quality standards, compliance with global regulations, and both digital and offline marketing approaches.

The consultant will also coordinate participation in domestic and international trade fairs, buyer-seller meets, and B2B networking platforms. The initiative is expected to cover a broad array of eco-friendly products typically produced by Bengal’s village industries, such as handspun textiles, handmade paper goods, wellness products, and artisanal crafts.

The project will be implemented under a structured monitoring framework with clearly defined deliverables and regular reporting, as outlined in the tender documents. According to officials, this move is part of a broader push by the Khadi Board to modernize rural industries and help traditional artisans tap into global markets by equipping them with the necessary skills, certifications, and international trade networks.

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