Kamal Nath to inaugurate ‘Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair’ on February 16
New Kerala
New Delhi: The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Kamal Nath will inaugurate the ‘Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair’ (IHGF) – Spring 2014 at the Indian Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida on February 16.
The Asia’s largest gifts and handicrafts fair is being organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicraft (EPCH) under the aegis of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
The IHGF is being held in an area of 80,000 sq. metres with a strong participation of over 1875 leading exporters. More than 7000 overseas buyers representing importers and wholesalers from 57 countries are expected to visit the show.
The five-day event will showcase the rich handicraft diversity of the country, and the focus this time will be on lesser known handicrafts.
The product range on display would include art-metal ware, wood ware, home utility items, fashion jewellery, fashion accessories, hand crafted home textiles and furnishings, clocks, furniture, floor coverings, Christmas and floral decorations, brocade, hand printed textiles, scarves etc.
The Fair is expected to generate spot orders worth Rs.1500 crore, thereby giving a major impetus to export of Indian handicrafts, and employment generation.
When the Fair was started in 1994, handicrafts export from India was of the order of Rs.3160 crore. By the end of 2005, this has shot up to Rs.13, 000 crore.
Over the last eleven years, IHGF has come to be recognised among the overseas buyers as ‘one of the top sourcing events’ for Indian handicrafts.
IHGF has played a vital role in providing an international platform to Indian artisans and exporters to showcase their products, leading to a big jump in export of handicrafts from India.
The fair which is organised by the EPCH, is the apex body with 6700 member exporter. It coordinates handicrafts exports from India.
The EPCH also provides comprehensive information to foreign buyers on the entire range of handicrafts from India and liasions between indian handicrafts exporters and foreign buyers.
The Council also organise trade-show, buyer-seller meets, conferences and study tours to keep Indian exporters abreast of the latest trends in markets world-wide.
