LIMCA WORLD RECORD FAME EPCH HANDICRAFTS FAIR BEGINS AT lNDIA EXPO MART

Saurabh Shrivastava Tennews

 

 

Greater Noida – February 16, 2017–Smt. Rashmi Verma, Secretary [ Textiles], Ministry of Textiles  inaugurated the 43^rd edition of “IHGF- Delhi Fair Spring 2017 in a colourful ceremony at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida.  The fair is scheduled to be held from 16 – 20 February, 2017 at state-of-the art India Expo Centre, Greater Noida.

Shri Alok Kumar, Development Commissioner [ Handloom and Handicrafts], Shri Deepak Agarwal, CEO, Noida and Greater Noida Authority, Dinesh Kumar, Chairman – EPCH,  Shri O.P. Prahladka, Shri Sagar Mehta, Vice Chairmen-EPCH,  Shri Vivek Vikas, President Reception Committee-IHGF-Delhi Fair and Shri K.S. Yadav, Vice President of the fair, Shri Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director- EPCH and Chairman, IEML, Members of committee of Administration, press and media from India were present during inaugural ceremony.

 

While inaugurating the fair Smt. Rashmi Verma, Secretary congratulated EPCH for having name of IHGF-Delhi Fair in Limca Book of World Records.  On the occasion she said that every time when she visit this fair always see new product lines on display and this is reason that large number of buyers from across the globe visit this fair to source the requirement from varied product groups under one roof.

 

She further said that artisans and manufacturers of Indian handicrafts at craft clusters are to be guided for creating new products to be competitive and EPCH is already is playing key role in providing platform and hand holding  at IHGF-Delhi Fair  to products being made by artisans, craft persons and up coming entrepreneurs from different craft clusters to interact directly with the International buyers.  Through this direct buyer-seller meet Indian handicrafts can grow further not only terms of exports but  can further enhance the image of brand India in the market of home, fashion, lifestyles and textiles  across the world.

 

She shown great satisfaction that VRIKSH certificate for wooden items has been accepted worldwide and she said that O/o DC [ Handicrafts is working towards branding of handicraft items just like handloom branding has been launched by Handloom sector recently and very soon branding of some of the handicrafts items will be introduced.  This will further help in terms of quality assurance and certification and selling of handicrafts products in the International markets.

 

Shri Rakesh Kumar, ED – EPCH  while welcoming the distinguished chief guest and dignitaries said that credit of success towards IHGF-Delhi fair entering into Limca Book of World records as the largest congregation of handicrafts producers under one roof goes to each and every all stakeholder, exhibitors, buyers, O/o DC [ Handicrafts] and team  EPCH.  He further said that during next edition of IHGF-Delhi fair EPCH will be setting a procedure for Design registration to safeguard the interest of the creator of the item and discourage copying of products amongst manufacturers community.

 

Buyers from renowned International buying companies having large number of stores such as New Edition Home B.V. Netherlands, TOK & Stok, Brazil, E&L, Australia, ROOST, USA, Accent Decor Inc, USA, Two’s Company Inc., USA, MOE’s Home, Canada, Kangaroo Gmbh, Germany, Kopyko, Venezuela are visiting during this edition of the show.

 

Apart from overseas buyers, Domestic volume retails buyers from  many leading retail chains of India and e-commerce companies have become the regular visitors to the fair and home, lifestyles, fashion and textile products have attained sizeable place in every Indian chain stores such as Good Earth, Furniture Republic, Fab India, West Side, Archies Ltd., DLF brands ltd, @home, Shoppers Stop, Lifestyles group, Urban Ladder.com, Pepperfry.com, Ajio.com, FabFurnish.com and Shopcleus.com and urban ladder elaborated by ED-EPCH

 

Like every edition of the show the first day of the show saw very  hectic activities with buyers seen engaged in business negotiations in Mart area as well as in exhibition halls.

 

The exports of handicrafts during the latest period April- January 2016-17 have registered a growth of 13.06% in Rupee terms and stands at Rs. 20282.18 crores. However, the growth in dollar terms is 9.43% with exports of US $ 3018.58 million. The export target of US$ 3600 million (Rs. 23560.00 crores) is set for the year 2016-17 and going by the current trend we hope to achieve the target informed Shri Dinesh Kumar, Chairman – EPCH

 

Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts[EPCH] which is a nodal agency for promotion and development of handicrafts has been organizing the Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair for the last 23 years.  IHGF-Delhi Fair Spring 2017 is expected to generate huge amount of enquiries and orders.