EPCH marks presence in Autumn Fair International, Birmingham, UK
New Delhi – 02nd September’2024 – Autumn Fair International, 2024 got underway at NEC, Birmingham, United Kingdom. The EPCH India Pavilion was inaugurated by Dr. Venkatachalam Murugan, Consul General of India, Birmingham, U.K. in the presence member exhibitors. The fair is being held from 01 – 04 September’ 2024. India has a great opportunity to display its unparalleled diversity, rich culture, and long tradition of arts and crafts on a large stage like Autumn Fair International, Birmingham, United Kingdom. The Council has organized participation of member exporters from different parts of the country informed R. K. Verma, Executive Director – EPCH.
Dr. Venkatachalam Murugan, Consul General of India, Birmingham, U.K. while inaugurating appreciated the continuous efforts of the Council for bringing Indian Handicrafts to the world markets and promotion of handicrafts exports from the country. CGI also interacted with member participants and assured all support in future business promotions.
Dileep Baid, Chairman – EPCH said The Council regularly exhibits at Autumn Fair International in Birmingham, UK, which provides insight into the U.K. market’s versatility. He further added United Kingdom being one of the major markets in the world has a vast potential for handicraft and gifts items. India’s participation in Autumn edition will add to the fair’s vibrancy and diversity, as well as familiarise global manufacturers, retailers, and brands with the robust entrepreneurship in the Indian textiles, home furnishing, and consumer products industries, opening up opportunities for sourcing from India.
R. K. Verma, Executive Director – EPCH said in this edition, 19 member exporters of EPCH are participating under EPCH India Pavilion displaying Home Decorative & Accessories, Fashion Jewellery & Accessories, and Christmas Decorative, Home Textiles & Furnishings, Handicrafts & Gifts, Handmade Leather products & Furniture and Kitchenware etc. He further added, in order to promote Indian Handicrafts, EPCH has setup exclusive pavilion with live demonstration of Indian Traditional Crafts by Master Craftspersons and Geographical Indications (GI) tagged products producers. The office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) has deputed 6 Master Craftsmen of Wood Craft, Jagdalpur; Kutch Bandhani (Tie & Dye), Bhuj; Lac Bangles, Delhi; Leather Puppet, Tirupati; Bronze Sculpture, Chennai and Bagh Print, Madhya Pradesh. Also, The Department for Promotion of Industry & International Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India has deputed 8 GI producers of Naraspur Crochet Lace Products, Andhra Pradesh; Muga Silk, Assam; Warli Painting, Daman & Diu; Kashmir Pashmina, Kani Shawl, Sozani Crafts, Jammu Kashmir; Nagina Wood Craft, Uttar Pradesh; Uttarakhand Berinag Tea, Uttarakhand; Cheriyal Painting, Telangana; Villianur Terracotta Works & Thirukannur Papier Mache, Pondicherry.
EPCH is a nodal agency for promoting exports of handicrafts from the Country to various destinations of the world and projecting India’s image abroad as reliable supplier of high quality of handicrafts goods & services. The Handicrafts exports during the year 2023-24 was Rs. 32,759 Crores (US $ 3,956 Million) registering a growth of 9.13% in rupee term & 6.11% in dollar terms over the previous year, further informed by Mr. R. K. Verma, Executive Director-EPCH.
