XXXIII EXPOARTESANIAS 2013 EXPECTED TO GENERATE RS. 3.50 CRORE BUSINESS HELD FROM DECEMBER 6 – 19, 2013 AT COLOMBIAv

The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) which participated in the XXXIII Expoartesanias 2013 held from December 6 – 19, 2013 at Colombia — aimed at showcasing craftsmanship of Indian handicrafts to the Colombian buyers — is expected to generate a business of Rs. 3.50 crore during its 14-day-long exposition.

India Pavilion set up in collaboration with Indian Embassy was earlier inaugurated on December 06, 2013 by Ambassador of India Mr. Riewad V. Warjri in the presence of Mr. Navraj Goyal, Addl. Development Commissioner(Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, Mr. Harish Lall, Member COA-EPCH, Mr. Jaime Mantilla, President – Colombia India Chamber of Commerce and Mr.R.K.Verma, Director-EPCH alongwith local dignitaries from Bogota, Colombia.

Amongst the VIPs who visited India Pavilion on December 12, 2013, was the First Lady, Her Excellency Maria Clemencia Rodriguez Munera, wife of the current President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos Calderon, informed Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director – EPCH.

EXPOARTESANIAS is the largest and famous in Latin American Countries. India is part of 18 countries selected to set-up special pavilions at this prestigious event, the biggest handicrafts & artisans’ exhibition in Latin America.

Indian pavilion was set up in Hall 6 along with 35 Indian Handicrafts Exporters out of which 17 member exporter were from EPCH along with 5 master craft persons deputed by O/o Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles. These Master Craft persons performed live demonstration of their crafts such as Phulkari, Zari Craft, Tie & Dye, Blue Pottery and Shawls.

Approximate 700 handicrafts manufacturers had participated from India, Argentina, Mexico, Pakistan, Turkey, Peru, Thailand, Venezuela, Ecuador, Indonesia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Colombia. Around 76,000 buyers from all over the world visited during the show.

EPCH Executive Director further elaborated that the Council has been participating in .Expoartesanias for the last many years as Latin America and Caribbean countries offer immense potential for exports of Indian handicrafts.

The exports of handicrafts has increased manifold in previous years as the exports which was USD million 1858 during 2000-01 increased to USD million 3305 during 2012-2013. The average exports growth in exports of handicrafts from India has remained between 15 – 16% per annum.

The exports to Colombia was of USD 3.15 million during the 2011-12 which increased to USD 4.53 million during 2012-13, he added. Also exports to Latin American Countries was Rs. 87.20 million in 2011-12 & USD 119.18 million in 2012-13.