Registrar of Cooperative Societies W. Ibohal yesterday called for improving the quality, branding and market reach of Manipur’s handloom products to enhance their competitiveness in national and international markets.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the five-day District Handloom Expo – Tana Bana 2026 at Urban Haat, Nilakuthi, he said Manipur’s traditional textiles, particularly the iconic Leirum Phi, are symbols of the state’s rich cultural heritage and should be promoted through value addition while preserving traditional weaving practices.
The expo was organised by the Manipur Apex Handloom Weavers & Handicrafts Artisans Co-operative Society Limited (AWAS) with support from the Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles.
Describing handloom weaving as an integral part of Manipuri society, W. Ibohal said it has long been a major source of livelihood, especially for women, with every community possessing distinctive weaving traditions and textile designs. He also stressed the need to strengthen social security for artisans, including access to healthcare, and informed that AWAS is working to facilitate health insurance coverage for handloom weavers. According to AWAS, around 50 stalls participated in the five-day expo, which recorded sales of approximately Rs. 25 lakh.
