CONSUL GENERAL OF INDIA IN BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM INAUGURATED “EPCH INDIA PAVILION” DURING AUTUMN FAIR INTERNATIONAL ON 4TH SEPTEMBER’ 2016
SAurabh Shrivastava Tennews
New Delhi – 9TH Septmber’2016 – Shri J. K. Sharma, Consul General of India to Birmingham, United Kingdom inaugurated EPCH India Pavilion set up during Autumn Fair International 2016 started on 4th September’16 alongwith Mr. B.C. Pradhan, Consul (Commerce) & HOC alongwith senior officials of the Consulate of India. Mr. Rajesh Rawat, Dy. Director, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts was also present during inauguration ceremony of EPCH India Pavilion. The fair held at National Exhibition Centre (NEC) from 4-7 September’2016 informed Shri Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director– EPCH.
UK market is known as one of world’s best selling market of gifts and handicrafts items. The city is famous for its small/medium commodity trade and vibrant market. Autumn Fair International is part of Europe’s one of the largest gift event (along with Spring Fair International) covering products of Housewares items, Christmas Gifts, Floral & Seasonal Decorations, Children’s Gifts, Art & Framing, Gifts & Home, Contemporary Gift & Home, Gifts, Home, Fashion Jewellery & Accessories, Jewellery etc., hosting 1300 exhibitors and attracting more UK buyers than any other trade show in the world.
Autumn Fair International, voted the best trade show in the UK, is designed for the most influential buyers looking for inspiration for the year ahead. the show was organised from 4 – 7 Sept., 2016 at the heart of the buying season in Europe.
ED – EPCH further informed that looking at the versatility of the U.K. market, Council is regularly participating in Autumn Fair International, Birmingham, UK. In this edition, 10 member exporters and five national awardees deputed by Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India participated under EPCH India Pavilion. Autumn International Fair is a B2B fair spread over in 32000 sq. mtrs area and widely visited by approx. 27000 visitors and purchaser from UK and from across the globe . During Autumn edition of this fair around more than 1300 companies from across the Europe participated in the show.
The Council has also organized live demonstration of craftsman skill by national awardees deputed by O/o Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India who have displayed Patta chitra paintings of Bhubneshwar Odisha, Jewellery of Jaipur (Rajasthan), chikankari work of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, lace work of Kanyakumari and metal craft of Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh. The visitors to EPCH India Pavilion appreciated the handicraft skill of India.
Mr. Kumar further elaborated that a United Kingdom being one of the major market in the world has a vast potential for handicraft and gifts items. In Autumn edition, Indian exhibitors displayed wide range of handicrafts and handmade products, jewellry & accessories, metalware, incense and aggarbati, textiles items, handicrafts, houseware, brassware, jute bags/productsetc. The Indian exhibitors generated reasonable amount of enquiries during their participation.
Its an extension of endeavours of EPCH to make brand image of Indian home, lifestyles, fashion and textiles products world over through participation in International trade fairs and exhibitions. It is expected that with the participation in above B2B fair, India would be able to make a mark in UK market.
The EPCH is a nodal agency under for promotion of handicrafts expots from India and projects India’s image abroad as a reliable supplier of high quality handicrafts.
