SME Times News Bureau | 13 Mar, 2010
To boost export of wooden handicrafts products from the country, the first of its kind Indian Furniture & Accessories Show (IFAS) begins in Jodhpur, Rajasthan from March 13-15.

Chandresh Kumari, MP, will be the Chief guest while H.E. Thomas Matussek, Ambassador of Germany, will inaugurate the fair. Harish chaudhary, M.P. will be the guest of honour. Other dignitaries including H.E. Humaid Al Manni, Ambassador of Oman, H.E. Walter Campo, Ambassador of Uruguay and H.E. Roberto Toscano, Ambassador of Italy will also grace the occasion.

The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), an apex body of handicrafts exporters, is organizing the mega event in coordination with the Jodhpur Handicrafts Exporters  Association (JHEA).

Over 250 leading manufacturers and exporters from all over the country will be showcasing best of their innovative products to over 300 foreign buyers at the three-day-long IFAS 2010 which is being held on the lines of a similar show held at High Point in USA, where international buyers will get an opportunity to visit the manufacturing units of the handmade furniture and accessories units of exporters located at this mega cluster and mostly in Western Rajasthan and adjoining Saurashtra region.

Jodhpur – dubbed as the High Point of India – provides employment to around 3 lakh craft  persons and the total volume of exports from Jodhpur is estimated to be around 150 million USD per annum.

A Reverse Buyer Seller Meet (RBSM) is also being organized specially focusing on the woodcraft of the country. The show will not only provide an opportunity to exhibitors to display their products, but also give them the chance to take the buyers directly to their showrooms and workplaces.

IFAS  is India’s exclusive mega b2b furniture show aimed at positioning Jodhpur as India’s major woodcraft cluster and town of export excellence as this former princely state has emerged as a hub of wooden artistic furniture and handicrafts inspired by centuries old traditions and legacy.

This mega show will provide opportunity to foreign buyers who specialize in certain product group and are specifically looking for a variety in products of their interest, and want better value for their time and money.

The show will offer unmatched opportunity for departmental store chains and specialty stores, retailers, interior designers, importers, wholesalers and distributors of furniture products, purchase divisions of hospitality chains to source a wide variety of furniture products and accessories from all over the country.

The products on display will include home furniture, colonial furniture, beach furniture, restaurant furniture, garden furniture, traditional furniture, furniture hardware and accessories. Besides, other handicrafts products will also be showcased at the fair.

According to provisional data, exports of handicrafts during 2009-10 (April-December) have shown a decrease of Rs 242.67 crore from Rs 5778.95 crore to Rs 5536.28 crore, a decline of 4.20 per cent in rupee terms. In dollar terms, the exports have shown the decrease of $156.12 million clocking a decline by 11.95 per cent over the similar period in 2008-09.

EPCH, with a membership of over 7000 exporters from all over the country, is the apex body that coordinates and promotes handicrafts exports from India. Sponsored by the Ministry of Textiles, the  Council also organizes trade-shows, buyer-seller meets, conferences and study tours to keep Indian exporters abread of the latest trends in the markets worldwide.