SPECIAL FOCUS ON INDIA AT AMBIENTE FAIR IN FRANKFURT : EPCH

On Feb 7, 2014

India is on special focus at the world known Ambiente Fair held at Frankfurt every year in the month of February. Ambiente is one of the oldest established and well known fairs for presentation of new products, new trends and new innovations.

More than 4500 companies from 80 countries participate in this fair. The fair attracts around 1,50,000 trade visitors. Majority of the items displayed at the fair are houseware, decorative, home furnishing, fashion accessories, Christmas decoration and wooden handicrafts etc.

Germany is major market for Indian products and hence Ambiente is an important marketing medium for Indian companies world over. This year Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts [EPCH] has set a thematic display at the fair beside its annual participation for display of Indian products. Thematic display highlighted Indian capabilities in the houseware and homeware requirement.

A high level delegation from India headed by Mrs. Zohra Chatterji, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, Mr. S. S. Gupta, IAS Development Commissioner Handicrafts and Mr. Nirmal Sinha CMD HHEC of India ltd., Mr. Sanjay Kumar, District Magistrate, Moradabad and Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director, EPCH and members from Industry and Trade were present at the opening ceremony of the thematic Indian Pavilion.

18 exhibitors from India are participating in addition of 5 master craftpersons demonstrating their skill for miniature painting, artistic weaving, woolen punja durry, azrakh hand block printing, pashmina shawls. The product range being highlighted at the India Pavilion are wooden artwares, handicrafts, kitchen wares, decorative items, jute products, marine instruments, nautical décor etc.

Ambiente being an important medium for securing export order, has been regularly participated by Indian companies for the past several years. Out of total 443 of Indian companies participating in this fair, 159 are from Moradabad region alone and other are drawn from different parts of the country. These are over and above, the Indian pavilion set up by EPCH at this fair. where select Indian companies displayed their range.

On the side lines of Ambiente fair, the Consul General of India in Frankfurt in collaboration with M/s Messe Frankfurt and with the active involvement of EPCH, organized a seminar on Handicrafts Market worldwide – India a Sourcing Destination. This seminar was attended by high level delegation from India. The Secretary Textiles, Mrs. Zohra Chatterji made a special presentation in the seminar highlighting uniqueness of India and the reasons why the buyers from all over the world should source for their requirement from India.

Other important dignitaries present at the seminar were Mr. Stephan Kurzawski, Senior Vice President, Messe Frankfurt, H.E. Mr. Raveesh Kumar, Consul General of India, Frankfurt. The seminar was instrumental for developing awareness amongst the importing community on the range available from India and the benefits of sourcing from India.

Mr. Sanjay Kumar, District Magistrate Moradabad, who is also the Chairman of Moradabad Artisans Welfare Trust was also present at the seminar. Presence of Mr. Sanjay Kumar at this fair enables him to acquire deep knowledge about the world market and the competition faced by Indian companies from others, which, it is expected, will help in providing suitable facilities to producers of handicrafts in the Moradabad region. Moradabad is already contributing more than 50% to exports of handicrafts and has one of the largest contingent from India present at Ambiente. Mr. Sanjay Kumar has already undertaken the responsibility of the welfare of the artisans and craftpersons in the Moradabad region. It is hoped that, he will contribute further to the development of handicrafts industry in Moradabad.

India exports handicrafts to the European Union on an average of US $ 1312.32 Million per annum. The exports to this region have been on increase for past few years. Out of total handicrafts exports of EU, Germany alone accounts for 258.60 million US$. Focus on India at this fair will help in further boosting exports, said Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director of EPCH.

The Executive Director further said that EPCH has already decided to convert the Autumn edition 2014 of the Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair into a mega event by enlarging its product lines for display and by increasing the size of the activities and the number of foreign buyers. Extensive promotion measures have already been planned in this direction by EPCH, participation by 443 Indian companies at Ambiente, presence of high level delegation and the seminar at Ambiente 2014 will further kick the proposed Mega Event of Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair in the Autumn 2014 at India Expo Mart and Centre, Greater Noida.

EPCH is a nodal agency responsible for promotion of exports of handcrafted products from India to various global destinations and project India’s image abroad as a reliable supplier at competitive prices.