Sonbhadra,is the second largest district of Uttar Pradesh, India with district headquarters in the town of Robertsganj .

Sonbhadra is an industrial zone with a variety of resources such as bauxite, limestone, coal, and gold. The district is known as India's "Energy Capital" because of its numerous power facilities and its location between the Vindhya and Kaimur ranges. The district consists of three subdivisions (Tehsil) and 8 blocks with headquarter at Robertsganj along with 67 Nayaya Panchayats, 501 Gram panchayats and 1443 revenue village in the district. As per the census 2001, the total population of the district is 15.05 Lac comprising of 7.92 lac males and 7.13 lac females. Out of the total population, 82% population resides in rural areas and 18% in Urban areas. The scheduled cast and scheduled tribe population of the district is 625555 (41.56%) and 493 (0.00033%) respectively. Average literacy percent in the district is 49.32%.

Sonbhadra district lies in the extreme southeast of the state, and is bounded by Mirzapur District to the northwest, Chandauli District to the north, Kaimur and Rohtas districts of Bihar state to the northeast, Garhwa district of Jharkhand state to the east, Korya and Surguja districts of Chhattisgarh state to the south, and Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh state to the west. The district headquarters is in the town of Robertsganj. It is the only district in India which borders four states namely Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Bihar. Geographically the district is located between 82°72’ to 83°33’ East longitude and 23°52’ to 25°32’ North latitude. Sonbhadra is well connected to Lucknow, Allahabad, Varanasi, Mirzapur etc. by road. It is very well connected through SH 5A. Major railway stations are Varanasi Railway Station and Deendayal Upadhyaya Railway station. The nearest railway station for District Headquarter is “Robertsganj” which is on the loop line from Chunar (Delhi-Howrah line). These trains directly connect Sonbhadra to various cities i.e., Delhi, Kanpur, Allahabad, Pathankot, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Ranchi, Lucknow, Kolkata etc. The nearest airport for Sonbhadra is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport which is in District Varanasi & 110 Kms from Robertsganj (District HQ.). There are direct flights from Varanasi to different major cities i.e., Delhi, Agra, Khajuraho, Kolkata, Mumbai, Lucknow & Bhubaneshwar etc. and vice-versa. The major cropping system of the district is Rice-Wheat. The major crops of the district are Paddy, Wheat, Arhar, Gram, Lentil, Linseed, Sesamum, Pea and Vegetables like Tomato, Brinjal, Chilli, Cucurbits, and broad beans. The cattle breeds are mostly non-descriptive with low milk productivity. Goat & sheep are other domestic animals dominant in district. The lack of irrigation facilities is one of the major factors affecting production and productivity of crops in this district. Major source of irrigation is canal supplying water from the reservoirs after storing rainwater. This water is not sufficient for providing irrigation to Kharif and Rabi season crops. Management of red, black soils with shallow depth and rocky nature located in undulated terrain is another problem of the district.

As given in the below table, the total number of industrial units in Sonbhadra district are 5863 units giving employment to around 18,343 people with an investment of around 12.13 lakhs.

As given in the below table, the total number of industrial units in Sonbhadra district are 5863 units giving employment to around 18,343 people with an investment of around 12.13 lakhs. The most prominent MSME sectors in the district are: Agro based, Woollen silk and artificial thread-based clothes, and ready-made garments and embroidery.

Carpet Considering Sonbhadra has no direct carpet export, the exporters of Bhadohi and Mirzapur provide the order to Sonbhadra artisans as a job work due to the district's low salaries. So only products are manufactured in the district but in the export data, even district name is not acknowledged for the job work. AluminumThere is only one large unit in the district, "HINDALCO," which manufactures ingots, rolled products, extruded products, wire rod, and billets. Aside from that, there is no MSME unit producing aluminium products. Chemical Products In the district only one unit GRASIM which is in large category, manufacturing the chemical products mainly Caustic Soda. There is not any MSME unit for Chemical products manufacturing.

Sonbhadra is an industrial zone with a variety of resources such as bauxite, limestone, coal, and gold. The district is known as India's "Energy Capital" because of its numerous power facilities and its location between the Vindhya and Kaimur ranges.

The district of Sonbhadra mainly manufactures high-quality hand-knotted carpets. These carpets are further distinguished based on the material they are made from i.e., woollen carpets, pure silk carpets, Persian carpets etc. The production of the district mainly depends on the demand from the overseas market. These orders are then forwarded to factories/units/ artisans in the district for production. The artisans of the district usually weave carpets of quality 9/60,12/60,14/70 and 16/80 in various sizes like 5x8’, 6x9’, 9x12’, 10x14’ and 12x18’.

The cluster currently manufactures the following types of carpets :
► Hand-knotted carpets: This technique was brought by the Mughals to India and was used by the ruling class during that period. Initially the patterns were Turkish and Persian but later became more Indian with passage of time. The high number of knots is what distinguishes it from other types of carpets. The various specification of knots ranges from 5-40, 7-62, 8-60, 9-60. The cost of the carpet increases with the increase in number of knots. The handknotted carpets can further be distinguised based on the type of material used, origin etc. The following types of hand- knotted carpets are weaved in Sonbhadra:
► Pure silk carpets: Hand-knotted pure silk carpets are renowned for its sharpness and fine workmanship in the world. The material composition of 80 silk yarn and 20 cotton displays a fine workmanship. The design varies for intricate motif and patterns are inspired from nature, hunting scenes, birds, animal motif and thematic replications of historical romances.
► Persian carpets: These carpets are known for their elaborate colours and designs. The modern production is characterized by the revival of traditional dyeing with natural dyes, the reintroduction of traditional tribal patterns, but also by the invention of modern and innovative designs, woven in the centuries-old technique. ;

Sonbhadra, the second largest district of Uttar Pradesh is one of the key carpet manufacturing pockets in India. The district is a part of the carpet manufacturing region of the state; the Bhadohi-Mirzapur belt. Sonbhadra along with eight other districts from this belt received a Geographical Indication tag in 2010 for their handmade carpets which are recognised as the “Handmade Carpets of Bhadohi” . However, only six out of the nine districts undertake carpet manufacturing as learned from stakeholder discussions. These are Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Ghazipur, Sonbhadra and Jaunpur as shown in the figure. The district of Sonbhadra has ~3,500 artisans engaged in warping, weaving, knotting, and trimming of carpets. The artisans/ weavers work on a job work model. ~90% of weavers in the cluster are male while only 10% are women. Most of the weavers are from tribal areas in the district specifically Ghorawal and Kon. The district has five key pockets that focus on carpet manufacturing, namely, Ghorawal, Kon, Dudhi, Ramgarh, Vindhamganj (Wyndhamganj). Amongst the five pockets, Ghorawal and Kon have the maximum number of artisans. The weavers of the district specialise in hand-knotted carpets which include pure silk carpets and Persian carpets. The cluster is 100% export oriented and caters to the markets of USA, UK, France, Italy, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia etc . Through its sales the cluster records an annual turnover of ~INR 27.3 crores .

There is no industry association of carpet manufacturers/traders/exporters in Sonbhadra district, nor is there any technical institute related to carpet technology.

India accounts for 40% of the world's total handmade carpet exports. Along with Sonbhadra, the major exporting units are Bhadohi and Mirzapur, with an export value of around Rs5308 in 2018-2019. However, with the advent of high-quality machine-made carpets, Indian handmade carpet industry is facing stiff competition from China, Pakistan, Turkey etc. Based on our understanding and discussion with exporters, we identified the specific 6-digit HS code; 570110 and 570310 being utilized by exporters of Carpets, specifications for which are provided in the figure (right). India is a land for its rich culture and artistic heritage. Carpet weaving is an ancient Indian tradition, with the industry flourishing in the country since the 16th century. Today, India is the world's largest producer and exporter of handmade carpets in terms of value and volume. Around 75–85% of carpets manufactured in India are exported. Indian carpets are known worldwide for their excellent design, fascinating colours, and quality.7
4.3.2 UP’s Export Scenario Uttar Pradesh ranks third in terms of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in the country. Against this, the State accounts for more than 5 per cent share in India’s exports – significantly lower if compared to its contribution to other key macroeconomic parameters. Export growth would not only boost the state economy but also generate more opportunities for employment and augment the competitiveness of business enterprises from the State. Over the period of 5 years, exports from Uttar Pradesh have grown at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.54% as against national average 1.08%

Uttar Pradesh ranks third in terms of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in the country. Against this, the State accounts for more than 5 per cent share in India’s exports – significantly lower if compared to its contribution to other key macroeconomic parameters. Export growth would not only boost the state economy but also generate more opportunities for employment and augment the competitiveness of business enterprises from the State. Over the period of 5 years, exports from Uttar Pradesh have grown at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.54% as against national average 1.08% ;

1. Expo Mart: The Bhadohi Carpet Expo Mart will be a milestone in the development of the Bhadohi-Mirzapur-Sonbhadra Carpet belt and the benefit will directly to the weaver and weaker section of the society in the adjoining areas. The mart will have the shops allotted to the weavers of carpets which will help establishing a direct relation with end users. The mart can also be utilized for promotion and branding of Indian Handmade Carpets all over the world in guidance of CEPC. The expo mart can also be used a dome for exhibitions, trades and fairs for uplifting and promoting the carpet industry of Sonbhadra. 2. Instore Promotion: Co-promotion with major retail players involving setting up display units in the retailer’s premises (both departmental stores and specialists) to increase visibility for the brand and give an opportunity to the consumers to get a look and feel of the textile products. 3. Promotion Campaign: An event management agency should be hired for this, and an extensive advertising strategy must be followed to increase awareness. This will include print promotions and advertorials in trade journals, newspapers, magazines, and websites. Such promotions will help increase exposure and visibility. 4. E-commerce Collaboration: An MoU should be signed between e-commerce companies and the units for onboarding them to the platform. This will help the weavers engage with customers around the world and increase the export of the product which then eventually will increase the demand of the products. These companies will then facilitate in cataloguing, branding, training & handholding on how to use platform for increased sales and provide free onboarding support to the weavers. 5. Leveraging Government’s Marketing Schemes: Currently, the weavers re unaware about the schemes of Central and state government which can be leveraged for participating in international fairs and expo-events. The awareness and outreach programs should be maximized and schemes like ODOP MDA, Marketing Assistance Scheme and International Cooperation. 6. Operationalisation of ICD/ CFS in the nearby area of the district: ICD Madhosingh is not operational since 26th January 2020 which has caused a major blow to the local industries of the districts surrounding it. The Air Cargo facility at Babatpur is functional but remains underutilized most of the times. Similarly, a dry port at Kanpur is underutilized; it is functioning at lesser than 30% of its capacity. Thus, majority of the export is undertaken at ports of Delhi and Maharashtra. Therefore, the following is suggested for improving the district’s export: a. The state government subsidises the transportation cost through the scheme run by Export Promotion Bureau with the help of District Industry Centre. It is suggested that DIC may take necessary steps for the promotion of this scheme and ensure 10% increase in the beneficiaries in the coming year. 7. Market Expansion: More than sixty percent of Carpet export goes to USA only and exporters should be promoted to target other markets where the demand for export is growing 8. Functionality of Bhadohi SEZ: U.P. Govt has established Bhadohi SEZ and same is not functional so far. It is suggested that a subcommittee may be formed to examine the issues which are coming in the way of successful operationalization of SEZ in Bhadohi. This would help the stakeholders of the Sonbhadra district. 9. Registration on to India Handmade Bazaar: India Handmade Bazaar is an online portal, which is developed by the Ministry of Textiles for direct marketing of handicrafts and handloom products. This portal facilitates the weavers and artisans to provide information about their handloom products for easy understanding of exporters. 10. Promotion of GI Products: The following will ensure adequate promotion : a. Number of authorisations uses should be increased b. Promotion in marketing events c. Formation of a sub-committee d. Awareness programmes specially for G.I. authorised users may be conducted. e. Initiate and promote the use of common logo, brand name of GI products by authorised users

Carpets and other textile floor coverings made of wool or fine animal hair that have been knotted or "needle punched." The Indian carpet has market access to 73 countries, US being the largest. India's exports represent 35% of world exports for this product, ranking it number 1. As per data FY 2016-17 to 2018-19 for exports from the state of UP, it is observed that there has been an increase by CAGR 2.1% and that UP accounts for more than 50% of the overall Indian exports in this category. The top importers for this product in the world are: ;