SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI, UNION MINISTER OF TEXTILES GOT MESMERISED TO SEE HANDCRAFTED PRODUCTS WHILE INAUGURATING 42ND EDITION OF IHGF-DELHI FAIR AUTUMN 2016
GREATER NOIDA REPORTER LOKESH GOSWAMI
Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, Hon’ble Union Minister of Textiles inaugurated the 42nd edition of world’s largest handicrafts fair “IHGF- Delhi Fair Autumn 2016 in a colourful ceremony at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida. Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Hon’ble Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism and Culture, Shri Ajay Tamta, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Textiles, Smt. Vimla Batham, Member of Legislative Assembly, Uttar Pradesh, Shri Dinesh Kumar, Chairman – EPCH, Shri Naved Ur Rehman President of the fair, Mrs. Leela Bordia and Shri Kishore Kumar Bhansali, Vice Presidents of the fair, Shri Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director- EPCH and Chairman, IEML, Members of committee of Administration, press and media from India and abroad were present during inaugural ceremony. The fair is being organised by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts[EPCH] from 14 – 18 October, 2016 at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida. While visiting the fair, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani was impressed to see the state-of-the art exhibition centre constructed in Greater Noida with world class facilities. This was her first visit to this centre. She commended EPCH efforts for creating such an infrastructure which is not only helping handicrafts exporters but also providing employment to many directly or indirectly in the country. Hon’ble Union Minister of Textiles said that artisans and craftpersons are the backbone of Handicrafts sector and should be provided all assistance with regard to design intervention and technology to create marketing platform for their products. She commended EPCH for bringing products at this world’s largest handicrafts fair made out of natural fibres by artisans and craftpersons of North Eastern, Narsapur and other craft cluster. She also congratulated EPCH in attracting buyers from over 100 countries showing an impressive increase of visit of buyers around 23% over last year.To get benefitted from the visit of tourists in the country, she requested Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Hon’ble Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, who was also present at the inaugural ceremony, to establish souvenir shops in famous ASI monuments in which products made by artisans and craftpersons can be sold thereby providing them other marketing opportunities.Shri Ajay Tamta while addressing the gathering said that after independence Handicraft sector has achieved greater heights and IHGF-Delhi Fair is one of the reasons for achieving this status. Dr. Mahesh Sharma while welcoming the Minister of Textiles said that Chairman India Expo Centre & Mart has brought laurels to town of Greater Noida by establishing India Expo Centre & Mart in Uttar Pradesh which is popularly known for various National and International events in the recent past. Over 5000 buyers from more than 100 as Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Russia, Sweden and UK from Europe. USA, Canada, Mexico, and Latin American Countries like Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Colombia and others. African countries like Algeria, Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria etc. have come to source their requirement. Other important countries from where buyers would be coming include China, Japan, Israel, Australia, New-Zealand, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Singapore and many more. Apart from overseas buyers, Domestic volume retails buyers from many leading retail chains of India such as Archies, The Bombay Store, Good Earth Pvt. Ltd, West Side, Home Town, Home Centre, Home Stop alongwith e-commerce companies such as Pepperfry.com, fabfurnish.com, urban ladder.com and flipkart.com have also come to visit the IHGF-Delhi Fair Autumn 2016 2016, elaborated by ED-EPCH The first day of the show saw hectic activities with buyers seen engaged in business negotiations in Mart area as well as in exhibition halls.The Handicrafts exports during the year 2015-16 was Rs. 21457.91 crores with overall 6.85% increase in comparison to last year. During first six month of current financial year i.e. 2016-17, export to the tune of Rs. 13005.35 crore has been met out and it is hoped that target fixed for the year 2016-17 amounting to Rs. 23560/-will be surpassed. 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 22 years. IHGF-Delhi Fair Autumn 2016 is expected to generate huge amount of enquiries and orders
