A Buyer Seller Meet [BSM] of Indian Handicrafts inaugurated at Santiago, Chile

New Delhi, (12/3/2019): The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) is the nodal agency for the promotion and development of handicrafts exports from India. The Council with the support of Embassy of India in Santiago, Chile and Santiago Chambers of Commerce is organizing a Buyer-Seller Meet.

This B2B event is being organized from 11 to 12^th March, 2019 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santiago, Chile informed Rakesh Kumar, Director General – EPCH.

The BSM was inaugurated by  Awadh Kumar, Commercial Attache, Embassy of India, Chile. Rodrigo Mujica R. Director International Affairs, Santiago Chamber of Commerce and  Magdalena Diaz Le Fort, Executive Director, Chile India Chamber of Commerce also graced the occasion.

During the day Anita Nayar, Hon’ble Ambassador of Embassy of India, Chile also visited the BSM and interacted with the Indian exhibitors.

The Buyer Seller Meet in the Latin American Region has been a successful annual event since the last five years and this is the 7^thsuch event being organized by the Council in Chile since the year 2010. 32 Indian exporters are participating in this BSM and displaying a wide range of Handicrafts, Decorative, Houseware Home Furnishing, Garments & Made Ups, Shawls, Scarves, Fashion Jewellery & Accessories, Jute Bags, Bags, Fashion Garments, and Incense, Aromatics and Christmas Décor from the state of Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar  Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Maharashtra, Haryana, Kolkata and Madhya Pradesh.   The Buyer Seller Meet is a B2B exhibition for order booking for future supplies.

With premium products to suit contemporary demands, manufacturers in India focus on freshness and new thinking. India’s exports to the Latin American Region have seen a healthy and consistent growth with our manufacturers & exporters growing knowledge of market trends and consumer preferences.

Rakesh Kumar, Director General elaborated that the objective of organizing this Buyer-Seller Meet is match making of Indian companies with the Chilean companies interested in sourcing Handicrafts, Gifts, Lifestyle products for the Chilean market thereby creating a ‘Brand Image” of Indian Handicrafts amongst Latin American buyers. On first day of the event, meetings with some of the big brands in Chile like Walmart, Lider DIB Carpets & Home Republic, Cencosud Retails S.A., Lounge, Paris have already taken place with Indian exhibitors.  Meetings with other major companies of Chile will be taking place on 2^nd day of the event which includes Home Republic,  Commercial Windsor Ltda, Imprtadora Triveni SA, Terapias Masajes Sacamostress and La Casa Magica.

The main exports markets for Indian handicrafts are USA followed by EU, Middle East and Far East.  However, Latin America and Caribbean countries (LAC) are emerging as a new destination for exports of Handicrafts. Indian Craftsmanship, Ethnic Designs and colours are unique and have no comparison with products from other countries. The range produced in India is very large and wide and the quality and price structure varies from high-end market, middle end market to low-end market.

The Director General – EPCH  further elaborated that the LAC and Caribbean countries are the potential markets for the Indian handicrafts. The exports of handicrafts from India are growing at a healthy rate and stood at US$ million 3573.49 in 2017-2018. The average exports growth in exports of handicrafts from India has remained between 15 – 16% per annum. The exports of India handicrafts to Chile was of USD 11.36 million during the 2016-17 which increased to USD 12.05 million during 2017-18.

It is expected that this Buyer-Seller Meet in association with Indian Embassy and Santiago Chamber of Commerce will lead to a growth in Indo-Chilean Trade relations.