AP Crafts Get Digital Boost with ₹172-Crore PM Ekta Mall in Visakhapatnam

quick Summary

• ODOP Initiative: Union Minister Jitin Prasada shared updates on the government’s efforts to promote One District One Product (ODOP) items across India. A Digital ODOP Gift Catalogue featuring over 1,000 products was launched, highlighting specialties such as Etikoppaka toys and Dharmavaram sarees from Andhra Pradesh.
• PM Ekta Mall in Visakhapatnam: A flagship PM Ekta Mall is being built in Visakhapatnam on a five-acre site with an investment of ₹172 crore. construction is underway and expected to be completed by May 2026; the State government’s Detailed Project Report has been approved by DPIIT.
• Identified Products: 99 unique products across Andhra Pradesh’s 26 districts have been recognized under ODOP,covering agriculture,handicrafts,handloom textiles,food processing goods,marine-based items,and manufactured products.
• Promotional Measures: The state government is actively providing support through common facility centres, testing laboratories, packaging units, design hubs for exporters/producers; workshops and capacity-building programmes focusing on youth/women aim to improve marketing standards for these ODOP products.
• Sales Channels: Online platforms like Lepakshi and APCO are contributing to rising sales of ODOP items.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The continued push under the ODOP initiative aligns with India’s larger goal of fostering self-reliance while boosting localized economic activity through promotion of unique district-specific products. The construction of PM Ekta Malls nationwide could provide essential physical infrastructure for showcasing regional craftsmanship at a national level while also generating employment opportunities locally-especially relevant as Andhra Pradesh looks to capitalize on this model with projects like the Visakhapatnam mall slated for completion by 2026.

Furthermore, initiatives like training sessions for youth and women could contribute positively towards skill progress alongside rural entrepreneurial growth in Andhra Pradesh’s diverse product sectors such as handicrafts or marine-based businesses. Although financial assistance isn’t directly granted under DPIIT’s framework for ODOP projects yet government facilitation measures including digital platforms or specialized resources notably aid small-scale producers reach refined marketplaces inexpensively building presence consistent multi-channel expanding trends present evident scaling support future economic phases higher local incomes circle continues evolve modern-level strategies!

Read More