Dr. Rakesh Kumar, DG EPCH, Unveils Vision 2035 Roadmap for ‘Greater EPCH’ at 60th IHGF Delhi Fair

Greater Noida (16 October 2025): The 60th edition of the Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF) Delhi Fair, organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), witnessed a significant moment as Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Director General of EPCH, unveiled a forward-looking Vision 2035 roadmap for “Greater EPCH”.

The fair, held at the India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, has drawn thousands of exhibitors and international buyers from across the globe. Over the decades, IHGF has evolved into one of the world’s largest platforms showcasing India’s vast and diverse handicraft sector, representing the creative legacy of millions of artisans.

Addressing members and stakeholders, Dr.Rakesh Kumar reflected on the remarkable journey of EPCH since its inception.

Four decades ago, in 1986, EPCH was established with a very clear mission—to create a self-sustaining platform representing India’s exporters, building organised market access, and projecting the best of our handmade excellence to the world, he said.

Dr. Rakesh Kumar recalled how the council began its operations with just 37 exporters, which has now expanded to an impressive 11,000 members. We have many senior members who have dedicated their lives to EPCH. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of them for their unwavering contribution, he added.

Speaking about the significance of the day’s event, Dr.Rakesh Kumar said that traditionally, EPCH organised gala dinners, festival nights, or cultural evenings during the fair. However, this time, the leadership team decided to take a more strategic approach.

For the first time, our dynamic and young team, including Chairman Mr. Neeraj Khanna and Executive Director Mr. Sagar, chose to discuss the future roadmap of EPCH—where we envision ourselves by 2035, and what form EPCH should take by then, Dr. Rakesh Kumar shared.

Highlighting one of the key challenges, Dr. Rakesh Kumar expressed concern over the limited participation of the second generation in traditional export businesses. Very few are fortunate enough to have their next generation continue the legacy they have built over decades. We need to create a business ecosystem that is attractive, technologically advanced, and rewarding enough to bring them back, he emphasised.

He outlined EPCH’s ambitious goal of increasing India’s handicraft exports from USD 3.9 billion to USD 9 billion by 2035, adding that the vision is both achievable and essential. We must focus on education, innovation, and systematic growth. The confidence and energy of our new generation will be key in defining the next decade for EPCH, he stated.

Dr. Rakesh Kumar described his vision of creating a “centric ecosystem” where EPCH becomes the nucleus of India’s handicrafts export movement. We aim to build an ecosystem where EPCH plays the most crucial role—one that eliminates challenges, attracts new business opportunities, and continually strengthens India’s global trade presence, he elaborated.

He credited the recent enthusiasm and renewed efforts within EPCH for driving the creation of this roadmap, saying that the idea of “Greater EPCH” is not just a plan but a collective mission for exporters, artisans, and industry leaders alike.

As Dr. Rakesh Kumar aptly concluded, By 2035, our goal of reaching USD 9 billion in exports will not just be a number—it will represent the spirit of innovation, tradition, and collective growth that defines the soul of Indian handicrafts.

The IHGF Delhi Fair 2025 continues to be a global hub for buyers, exporters, and designers, promoting Indian craftsmanship to international markets. The unveiling of EPCH Vision 2035 marks a decisive step toward redefining India’s role in the global handicraft industry.