Need to do extra work for expanding exports: Secy Textiles

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SME Times News Bureau | 16 Apr, 2014
Worried over subdued export performance, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Zohra Chatterji Tuesday said that there is a need to do some extra work in expanding India's exports base to other non-traditional markets which have considerable buying powers.

"There is a need to do some extra work in expanding our exports base to other non-traditional markets which have considerable buying powers and where the standard of living has been on increase," Chatterji said in her address after inaugurating the four-day-long third edition of Asia's highly specialized and product-segmented mega triple show Home Expo India (HEI-2014), organized by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), at India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida on Tuesday.

She said, "Even though, the size of market may not be as large as is available in the traditional markets of Europe and USA, we need to make some extra efforts to devote our energies to the markets in Central Asia, West Asia, South East Asia and Latin American regions."

The export performance of these sectors during the last years has been very impressive and that the growth in furniture and accessories exports has been: 47.56 percent, in furnishing, floorings and textiles 27.45 percent, houseware and decorative 21.42 percent, she observed.

Home Expo India represents the products which have largest growth rate in the International market as they mostly relate to consumer's requirement. India has a very versatile production base in all segments of home requirement and the raw material base is so wide and large that it can produce different types and different designs. "What is needed is adaption and innovation in presentation and usages," she added.

The Secretary suggested that perhaps the exporting community on their own also need to divert their attention from main and easily accessible markets to those markets where extra efforts are required and who will provide us safe ground in difficult times in future.

Chatterji said that she has been informed by EPCH that "Autumn edition of Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair is being launched as a Mega event with Bigger space, Grander display with more product categories and Longer in duration. Extensive publicity and promotion amongst buying community overseas is being done by EPCH with the help of International design experts to induce and encourage more and more buyers of different product categories to visit the forthcoming mega event in October, 2014."

She said that the Ministry of Textiles will extend all necessary support in the ambitious venture of Autumn edition of IHGF 2014 which is being launched as a Mega event in which around 6,000 buyers, importers and representative are expected to result in much more larger orders, trade enquiries and tie ups.

The Secretary lauded the role of the Council in successfully promoting handicrafts trade through trade fairs during the last more than 15 years or so. Of late, EPCH has branched out to specialized fairs which is in keeping with the trends in the International market. It is expected that Council would be concentrating more on specialized shows than on general shows.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Lekhraj Maheshwari, Chairman of EPCH, said that the Home Expo India 2014 is laying emphasis on display of products from Jammu & Kashmir. Last year, the focus was on tribal belts of India like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa.

J & K is a state where specialized kind of floorings, furnishings are produced which are typical of their craftsmanship. The furniture and accessories are broadly made of walnut wood with typical kashmiri carving. Houseware and textiles items are also typical for their designs, colours scheme and presentation.Though products of J&K are already being exported yet volume of export has not been substantial. It is hoped that with the special emphasis on display of J&K in Home Expo India, the products of the state will receive extra attention from the visiting overseas buying community, the Chairman elaborated.

As in the past, EPCH has undertaken massive publicity and promotion amongst buying community and it is expected that buyer turn out will be very satisfactory during the show. It is hoped that this show will not only bring more export orders but will also encourage and result in tie ups, joint ventures, business alliances and collaboration between India and foreign companies.

Maheshwari said that the EPCH is grateful to the Ministry of Textiles and O/o DC (Handicrafts) for their continued and valued support and guidance which has helped us in day to day programmes.

The prominent buying groups across the world who are visiting the Home Expo India, 2014 include PIER 1 IMPORT (USA), COST PLUS WORLD MARKET (USA), GIBSON IMPORTING CO (AUSTRALIA), WORLDWIDE HOME FURNISHING INC, (CANADA), ATLAS GMBH (GERMANY), HALENZA KG(GERMANY), LIVINS CO LTD(JAPAN), GLOBUS AG (SWITZERLAND), EDELMAN BV (THE NETHERLANDS), UTTERMOST COMPANY(USA) etc.

During thr course of the fair, another important aspects of the Home Expo India is the Curtain Raiser of IHGF Delhi Fair –Autumn 2014 being re-launched by the Council with Bigger in space, Grander in display with 12 segmented product groups and 2750 exhibitors and Longer in duration on 16th April, 2014 at Board Room of India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida.

Two seminars, the first on Power of E-commerce to boost the Handicrafts exports by Amazaon.com and second on Trends and Forecost will be held on 17th April, 2014 at Board Room of the fair during the fair.