4-day handicrafts & gifts expo to open on Feb 18

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SME Times News Bureau | 14 Feb, 2012
The 33rd edition of Asia largest Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair (IHGF), the four-day-long flagship event of Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), will get underway from February 18 at the world class venue of India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida Expressway, NCR, New Delhi.

Dr. Rahul Khullar, Commerce Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry will be inaugurating the fair in the presence of leading luminaries of the handicrafts trade, buyers from many countries, buying agents of foreign companies located in India, officials of the Government, State Govt. of UP, representative from Press and Media from India and abroad.

The IHGF-Spring 2012 will have over 2300 exhibitors from 28 States of India covering gross area of 100,000 sq. mtrs, displaying around 950 product lines, designs, styles, raw material base and concepts etc. Overseas buyers from more than 30 countries are expected to visit this fair, according to Arvind Vadhera, Chairman of the Council.

Though the major product lines on display in the fair will be Houseware, Decoratives & Gifts, Fashion Jewellery, Accessories & Bags, Cane, Bamboo & Eco- Friendly Products, Christmas Decorations, Candles & Incense Sticks, Home Textiles, Furnishings, Furniture, Floor Coverings & Home Accessories, yet the emphasis will be on recycled and eco-friendly items, added Vadhera.

Other highlights of the fair will be special display by the State of Jammu & Kashmir. J & K region is known for traditional handicrafts and raw material bases and of late, have developed new designs, new product lines, new styles which are not only traditional but also modern and contemporary to suit the International requirement.

The uniqueness of the products showcased at this fair will continue to be the domination of hand crafted and hand made products where machines are used only for finishing purposes. Though, hand crafted products are displayed at many other fairs in the world but it is also a known fact that hand crafted products produced in countries like China, Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia etc. are predominantly machines made and hand work is done only for finishing. This is the reason that these countries cater to bulk orders in thousands and millions pieces, said Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director â EPCH.

"Unlike this, India still have predominance of hand crafted and hand made products and this is the reason that India offers uniqueness in craftsmanship, finish and presentation which brings further value addition to the finished products," added the Executive Director.

Handicrafts exports registered an increase of 23.44% at Rs. 8992.12 crore in the first 10 months of the current financial year 2011-12 as against Rs. 7284.48 crore during the same period last year and in dollars terms the exports went up by 18.91% at USD 1889.61 million in the first 10 months of 2011-12 as against 1589.17 million dollars during the same period in 2010-11.

A substantial number of buyers from countries like US, Europe and Far East have already confirmed their visit and more buyers from new markets like Latin America, CIS, Middle East, South Eastern Africa and Central Asia are also expected to visit this fair.

Four-day-long IHGF is expected to generate large export orders besides serious trade enquiries on products like decoratives, gifts, utility items, houseware, homeware, kitchenware, bath room ware, furnishings, floorings, decorative lightings, cutlery, crockery, fashion accessories and fashion jewellery, furniture etc.

EPCH is the nodal export promotion body for handicrafts in India under the aegis of Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India and plays the role of a catalyst between the exporters, buyers and the Government with the main objective of boosting trade in Handicrafts.