Textiles Secretary declares IHGF Delhi Fair Spring 2016 open

Overseas Buyers from more than 110 countries sourcing from this fair

The 41^st edition of India Handicrafts and Gifts Fair, renamed now as “IHGF - Delhi Fair Spring” 2016 was declared open by Ms. Rashmi Verma, Secretary, Textiles at the world class venue of India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida at a colourful ceremony here today. The fair is being held from 20 – 23 February, 2016. The IHGF is being organized by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) since 1994.

More than 2800 exhibitors including permanent marts are displaying houseware, home furnishing, furniture, gifts & decoratives, Christmas & festive décor, carpets and rugs, fashion jewellery & accessories, Spa & wellness products, bathroom accessories, leather bags, lamps and lighting, stationery, educational toys and games in the IHGF-Delhi Fair Spring 2016.

In her inaugural address, Ms. Rashmi Verma, Secretary, Textiles said that Handicrafts is an important sector both from economic and social point of view. She said that the uniqueness of this sector lies in its high export potential, low capital investment requirement and immense scope for generating employment and generating job opportunities particularly for economically and socially backward sections of the society. She further added that Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India through O/o Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) has undertaken various developmental and promotional activities through its on-going schemes such as creating mega clusters, common facility centres and design development and technology upgradation centres.

After visiting various stands of the participating companies, she appreciated the vivid range of products on display, of high quality, matching with international standards. She also advised the exporting community that adequate emphasis should be laid on new designs and product innovation to retain the share of Indian handmade products in the world market as lifestyles across the globe are changing very fast.

She applauded the efforts of EPCH for constantly organizing this fair for the last 22 years, besides for other measures taken by it for promotion of exports of handicrafts from the country.

Dr. K. Gopal, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) said that this event has created a common platform under one roof, for exporting and buying community; he called the IHGF-Delhi Fair a classic fair which is based on consumer demands.

Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director, EPCH, said that the Council has chalked out a three pronged strategy to promote the exports of handicrafts, focussing its efforts on products, clusters and markets. The Council has been participating annually in more than 35 fairs and exhibitions being organized in different countries and in exploring new markets in Latin American, CIS, ASEAN and African regions where exports of Indian handicrafts is negligible. He further said that a strategy has been prepared to promote the new regions within India as well, from where handicrafts exports are not substantial such as North Eastern Region, Eastern Region and Southern Region. The Council is doing this by bringing artisans and craftpersons from Narsapur, North Eastern Region and Jodhpur to participate and display their crafts in the fair and by providing them direct market linkages with the domestic as well as International buying community.

ED-EPCH further informed that Handicrafts sector which is performing well in comparison to other sectors will be able to achieve the export target of US $ 3233 Million (Rs. 20,368 crore) in 2015-16 and to set new and ambitious targets for future years.

Shri Dinesh Kumar, Chairman, EPCH informed that EPCH has toiled hard to make this fair world’s largest fair for home, lifestyles and fashion products and has undertaken massive publicity campaign to encourage buyers to source their requirements from this show.

A Symposium on Positioning of North Eastern Region handicrafts in Domestic & Overseas markets was held on 20.2.2016.

Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, a nodal agency for promotion and development of handicrafts, has been organizing the Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair for the last 22 years. IHGF-Delhi Fair Spring 2016 is expected to generate huge amount of enquiries and orders, given the large number of buyers from across the world visiting the fair.

Shri A.M. Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry for Development of North East Region (DONER); Shri Deepak Aggarwal, Chief Executive Officer of Greater Noida Development Authority and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.