Ahmedabad : HSBC India, in partnership with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, celebrated a significant milestone of the ‘Hand Made in India’ programme, a transformative initiative aimed at preserving Gujarat’s rich handloom heritage while strengthening sustainable livelihoods for weavers and artisans.
The celebration brought together distinguished guests including renowned celebrity chef Ranveer Brar, Sandeep Batra, Head of International Wealth and Premier Banking, HSBC India, and Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Ahmedabad, along with senior leaders from HSBC India and EDII. The event also marked the launch of HSBC India’s new branch in Surat, further reinforcing the bank’s commitment to Gujarat’s growing economic and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The ‘Hand Made in India’ programme has successfully engaged over 1,500 weavers and craftsmen across the Surendranagar and Bhuj handloom clusters, focusing on strengthening the handloom value chain, promoting self-reliance, and creating sustainable economic opportunities.
Designed to address key challenges faced by artisans—including limited product diversification, restricted market access, low technology adoption, and minimal digital presence—the initiative equips weavers with entrepreneurship skills, market intelligence, product innovation capabilities, and digital tools to build resilient and scalable enterprises while preserving traditional craftsmanship.
Speaking on the occasion, Aloka Majumdar, Head of Sustainability, HSBC India, said, “India’s handloom sector is a living legacy and a powerful driver of rural livelihoods, women’s economic empowerment, and sustainable production. By building entrepreneurial skills, enabling market access, and supporting shifts to natural fibres and dyes, the partnership is helping Gujarat’s weavers and artisans grow resilient enterprises while keeping handloom traditions alive.”
Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Ahmedabad, added, “This partnership combines capability-building with market enablement for weavers and artisans. Through product development, digital tools, and market linkages, we are helping artisans diversify, reach new customers, and build enterprises that can scale sustainably and endure in a competitive marketplace.”
The programme has delivered measurable impact across Gujarat’s handloom ecosystem. Key achievements include the development of 734 new handloom weaving and block-printing designs, launch of 13 new product lines, creation of 131 new enterprises, transition of 35 weavers to natural fibres, and adoption of natural dyes by 222 weavers. The initiative has also facilitated strong market linkages through retail partnerships, exhibitions, and digital commerce platforms, enhancing income opportunities and visibility for artisans.
Beyond Gujarat, the HSBC India–EDII partnership under the ‘Hand Made in India’ programme has positively impacted nearly 4,500 weavers across seven handloom clusters in five states, demonstrating the programme’s growing contribution to preserving India’s traditional crafts while fostering entrepreneurship-led rural development.
The milestone celebration reaffirmed the shared commitment of HSBC India and EDII towards empowering artisan communities, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and ensuring that India’s rich handloom traditions continue to thrive for future generations.