The government is working on a scheme to boost the production of handicrafts in the North-East and increase their share in the country's exports of handcrafted items, a news agency reported Wednesday.

"The need is felt to have a special scheme for handicrafts of the (NE) region to accelerate the pace of the production and carve a sizeable share in exports market," the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) was quoted.

At present, the share of NE handcrafted items is negligible in the country's total handicrafts exports, which stood at USD 2.3 billion in 2010-11.

The "Integrated Scheme for Handicrafts Development of North Eastern States" would promote entrepreneurial skills among handicraft artisans, as well as focus on product development and creation of infrastructural facilities, it said.

The main handicraft items from the region include bamboo, woodcraft, brass and bell metal articles, besides terracotta and tribal textile etc.