EPCH welcomes Neeraj Khanna as Chairman and Sagar Mehta as Vice-Chairman

Dharamshala, 3rd May 2025 – Dr. Neeraj Khanna, Vice-Chairman has been elevated as the new Chairman and Sagar Mehta has been elevated as the new Vice-Chairman of the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH). This transition was announced during the 199th meeting of the Committee of Administration (COA) held today informed R. K. Verma, Executive Director, EPCH.

Dr. Neeraj Khanna takes over the Office of Chairman from Dileep Baid, who completed his tenure. The members of the Committee of Administration welcomed and congratulated Dr. Neeraj Khanna and Sagar Mehta on their new assignments.

Dileep Baid said, “As I conclude my tenure as Chairman of the Council, I’m honored to reflect on the remarkable achievements we’ve made together. Under my leadership, we’ve undertaken significant initiatives that have propelled our export growth. I’d like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each member of the committee, administration, and stakeholders for their unwavering support and dedication.

As I pass the baton, I assure the new Chairman and Vice Chairman of my full support and commitment. Together, we’ll continue to drive export promotion to unprecedented heights. I’m confident that our collective efforts will yield even greater successes in the future.”

The Committee Administration expressed its gratitude to Mr. Dileep Baid for his successful two-year tenure as Chairman. Through his wisdom and leadership, several initiatives such as product development, packaging innovation, brand creation, enhanced productivity, improved quality and standards, sustainable development, and compliance with international norms were launched that significantly contributed to export growth, particularly the “Teen Guna Tees Tak initiative” aiming to triple export of handicrafts by 2030.

The Committee Administration has extended its full support and congratulations to the newly appointed Chairman and Vice Chairman. The members look forward to their leadership and are committed to working closely with them to further enhance export performance and new initiative for handicrafts export growth.

R. K. Verma, Executive Director-EPCH, further informed that Dr. Neeraj Khanna is a dynamic exporter and a respected leader in India’s handicrafts export industry. He joined Nodi Exports as 2nd generation exporter in 1996 and laid the strong foundation of the company with a clear vision and relentless determination. His career reflects a deep commitment to innovation, quality, and global excellence. He accelerated the business manifold, achieving an 800% growth and establishing Nodi Exports as a prominent name in international trade. Over the years, Dr. Khanna’s outstanding contribution to the industry has been recognized at both state and national levels. He was appointed as a member of the Advisory Committee of Uttar Pradesh Industrial Development by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. His visionary leadership earned him the prestigious Atal Gaurav Award 2024 for export excellence.

Apart from his business achievements, Dr. Khanna is actively involved in various philanthropic initiatives, including the Diwa Sewa Prem Mission in Haridwar, the Moradabad Charitable Trust & Health Research Centre, and Asian Vivekanand Super Specialty Hospital. Under his leadership, services such as dialysis for the underprivileged, free eye surgeries, and numerous health camps have been organized.

Sagar Mehta leads the QTL Group, established in 2005 and based in New Delhi, is a leading manufacturer and exporter of fashion jewelry accessories, and bags. Under the leadership of Mr. Mehta, the company has earned national recognition for its outstanding export performance and growth in the fashion jewelry segment. With a strong global presence, QTL Export House exports to markets including Spain, Chile, and Greece. Sagar Mehta thanked the committee for the new role bestowed upon and look forward to closely work with the industry and CoA towards export promotion.

Upon his elevation, Dr. Neeraj Khanna expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the members of the Committee of Administration and handicrafts exporters for their trust and support. He reaffirmed his commitment to the continued growth and global recognition of Indian handicrafts under the aegis of EPCH Newly elected Vice-Chairman Sagar Mehta extended his thanks to the CoA members, stating, “I am dedicated to working towards enhancing exports of Indian handicrafts and achieving higher growth trajectories in the future.”

The newly appointed Chairman, Dr. Neeraj Khanna, further stated that the initiatives undertaken by his predecessor will not only be continued but pursued with greater vigor “We will work resolutely towards realizing the ambitious vision of increasing handicraft exports triple by the year 2030, under the mission ‘Teen Guna Tees Tak’ he affirmed.

Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts is a nodal agency for promotion of exports of handicrafts from the Country and create brand image of magic of the gifted hands of millions of artisans and crafts persons engaged in production of home, lifestyle, textiles, furniture and fashion jewellery & accessories products in different craft clusters of the Country An estimated provisional exports of handicrafts during the year 2024-25 was Rs. 32,971.50 Crores (US $ 3898.46 Million) informed by Mr. R. K. Verma, Executive Director EPCH.