The textiles ministry, in a bid to improve exports in the global slowdown and launched its e-marketing initiatives to promote and sell Indian handicrafts and handloom products. As there is global recession, less and less people are travelling to India, but now with our internet initiatives, customers can buy products online, said Dayanidhi Maran, Textiles Minister.

He said domestic textile industry was severely impacted as exports crashed due to global slowdown in the last fiscal. The ministry would monitor the online sales periodically and move away from the traditional 'brick-and-mortar" approach for deeper penetration in the US and European markets.

According to the ministry, the e-marketing market is worth Rs 37,000 crore annually and the portal will host more than 1,000 wide-ranging handicrafts and handlooms products with specifications, including origin and place of production with a single window gateway for procurement.

The ministry also reaffirmed that applications for subsidies under the Technology Up gradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) up to June 30 have been cleared and total amount Rs 2,546 crore would be allocated shortly.