Irani opens world largest B2B handicraft & gifts fair Thursday

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Saurabh Gupta | 13 Oct, 2017
44th edition of world largest B2B handicraft and gifts fair entitled IHGF-Delhi Fair (Autumn) 2017 was inaugurated on Thursday by Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister of Textiles in a colourful ceremony at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida.

The fair is scheduled to be held from 12 – 16 October, 2017 at state-of-the art India Expo Centre, Greater Noida.

Minister applauded the role of EPCH for promoting exports of handicrafts from the Country. The Handicraft sector has witnessed a growth of 13.15 percent in 2016-17 compared to the previous year and has touched to Rs. 24,392 crores. The Minister urged the exporting fraternity to take care the welfare of the artisans which are backbone of the sector.

The Minister specially mentioned about the launch of education welfare of the children of the artisans by EPCH under their CSR programme. The scheme provides full support to the education of the children of the artisans through open schools which includes tuition fee and other study material. 75 percent of the entire expenditure is to be borne by EPCH and 25 percent by the member exporters sponsoring the study of the children.

The Minister specially mentioned that this is the dream of the Hon'ble Prime Minister that no child in the country should be left illiterate.

While inaugurating the Delhi IHGF Fair, the Minister mentioned that design and product development is the essence for keeping the higher value realisation for a product and benefit of the same ultimately reaches to the artisans and producers who are from small and weaker sections of the society.

She also appreciated the introduction of EPCH scheme for "Design Register" under which the member exporter can register their design without any hassle.

She also expressed that design and product development should not be a difficult task for a common entrepreneur and EPCH design services will definitely help the sector in a big way and will augment the exports of handicrafts from the country and will ultimately increase the employment opportunities to the artisans.

Irani expressed her satisfaction that the vision of the Hon'ble Prime Minister to promote the North East is being truly implemented by EPCH.

EPCH is providing full support through its integrated programme of development of NER handicrafts and handloom which include design, market and skill development.

Speaking on the occasion, O.P. Prahladka, Chairman – EPCH mentioned about the EPCH vision for the next five years on "Technology Upgradation".

EPCH has just started the "Design and Product Development Technology Mission" under which the design and new material of product shall be focussed. Minister assured every support to this new initiative which is otherwise need of the hour.

Minister also noted that for the first time for Handicrafts sector, a initiative is being taken for foreign direct investment [FDI] and joint venture opportunities for the buyers and sellers i.e. exporters and importers both. A symposium on Investment Opportunities in Handicrafts Sector is being organised.

Over 100 stakeholders have shown keen interest in the sector, It is understood that presently a very large amount of investment from USA and Europeans countries is already taking place in the handicrafts sector in China, South Korea, and Vietnam which are competitors of India.

This initiative will give opportunities to overseas buyers to bring technical know how, investment and marketing network to form joint ventures for promoting Indian Handicrafts in world market. It is estimated that the export of handicrafts may see a new dimensions.

O.P. Prahladka also appreciated the overall support received from Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Commerce to ease the implementation of GST. He assured the Minister that despite the initial challenges handicrafts will continue to demonstrate robust growth.

On the occasion there was a large number of overseas buyers present in the fair as per Rakesh Kumar, ED – EPCH about 2980 exhibitors of home, lifestyle, fashion, textiles and furniture are participating in the IHGF-Delhi Fair. Over 6000 buyers from 110 countries are visiting the fair.

Kumar said that special attraction of this fair includes designer forum and recycled products at the fair.