Candolim, Goa: In an initiative aimed at strengthening market linkages for traditional artisans, the Ministry of MSME, Government of India, in collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Radisson Goa Candolim, with support from the Directorate of Handicrafts, Textiles & Coir (DHTC), Government of Goa, has launched a special Government-Hospitality Partnership to promote local crafts under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme.
As part of the initiative, Radisson Goa Candolim has opened its prominent, high-footfall space to artisans registered under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme. The platform enables artisans to showcase, demonstrate and sell their traditional crafts directly to hotel guests and visitors.
Bringing Artisans Closer to Customers
The partnership seeks to bridge the gap between traditional artisans and consumers by creating opportunities for direct interaction and market access.
Through live demonstrations, visitors can observe traditional techniques and craftsmanship firsthand while exploring and purchasing authentic local products at the hotel itself.
The model also aims to help artisans gain greater visibility among tourists and visitors while creating new avenues for sustainable livelihoods and entrepreneurship.
Three-Day Exhibition
The exhibition commenced on August 14, 2026, and will continue until August 16, strategically coinciding with Independence Day and the weekend to maximise visitor footfall and provide greater exposure to participating artisans.
Five Goan artisans are participating in the exhibition, representing a range of traditional crafts:
- Mr. Umakant Tukaram Poke – Sculptor
- Mr. Rajesh Rama Kalangutkar – Coir Weaver
- Ms. Smita Shirodkar – Tailor
- Ms. Shabdali Umesh Desai – Goldsmith
- Mr. Arun Vasu Gawandi – Potter
The exhibition provides each artisan with an opportunity to interact directly with potential customers and demonstrate the skills associated with their respective crafts.
Officials Attend Inauguration
The exhibition was formally inaugurated by Shri Sagun R. Velip, Director, Department of Handicrafts, Textile and Coir, Government of Goa.
The inauguration was attended by Shri Mukesh Kumar Meena, Director, MSME-DFO Goa, Ministry of MSME; Shri Rohit Kumar Debnath, Assistant Director, MSME-DFO Goa; Shri Kedarnath Kaware, Central Food Safety Officer, FSSAI; Ms. Rucha Salelkar, Technical Officer, FSSAI; and Shri Rajesh Radhakrishnan, General Manager, Radisson Goa Candolim.
Also present were Ms. Mahima Prasad Sahoo, Team Lead – State Level PMU, PM Vishwakarma, along with members of the SL-PMU team, officials from state government departments and representatives of the hotel.
A New Market Linkage Model
The Government-Hospitality Partnership represents an effort to take traditional crafts beyond conventional marketplaces by bringing artisans directly into spaces frequented by tourists and consumers.
By combining government support with the hospitality sector’s reach, the initiative can create stronger market connections for local crafts while giving visitors an opportunity to experience Goa’s traditional artistic heritage.
The three-day exhibition at Radisson Goa Candolim highlights the potential of such collaborations in supporting artisan livelihoods, local entrepreneurship and the preservation of traditional craftsmanship.
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