Handloom and handicrafts, which have been traditional occupation of the region's tribals, have immense potentiality to generate employment if proper incentives were given, he said and offered all central help, including marketing of products both inside and outside the country.

After discussions with with Arunachal Pradesh minister for industries Tsering Gyurme and leading entrepreneurs in the field, the textile minister asked the state government to prepare viable projects.

The centre, he said, has already decided to earmark 10 per cent of plan fund for the north eastern states to ensure rapid growth of the area, of which 16 per cent of which had been allotted to handloom and handicraft in view of the sectors' bright prospects.

Referring to Arunachal Pradesh, he lamentedthat Rs 2 crore allotted to it under the help package and project package schemes by the centre had not been fully utilised.