Indian handicrafts export to reach over Rs 48,000 cr by

New Delhi, Oct 13 (UNI) The Government has set a target to treble the Indian handcrafts exports to over Rs 48,000 crore and market share to 4 per cent in the global trade by the end of 11th Five Year Plan.

After the inauguration of the Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF) Autumn 2006 by Ashok Pradhan, MP, at the India Expo Centre and Mart (IECM) on the Greater Noida Expressway today, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) Sanjay Agarwal said all possible measures would be taken for brand promotion of Indian handicrafts and gifts items in a big way to grab bigger share in the 235-billion-dollar world gifts market.

Mr Agarwal said that for the first time the venue for the IHGF has been shifted from Pragati Maidan to the IECM, which has infrastructure comparable to any international venue abroad.

He hoped that the last fair had generated a business of Rs 1,200 crore and this fair is expected to cross Rs 1,500 crore.

The 5-day-long 22nd edition of the IHGF 2006, being organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), would generate immense employment for the artisans of the country.

Special focus has been given to the north eastern states and seperate pavilions with theme of ''Nature'' have been put up to be viewed by the foreign buyers.

He said after focus on the north east region, the export from the area have touched Rs 500 crore in the last three years.

More than 7,500 foreign buyers are expected to visit the fair during its 5-day exposition to source their requirements under one roof in which about 1,850 exhibitors are displaying best of their products offering at very competitive prices.

Eight state corporations and NGOs are also participating in the fair.

EPCH Executive Director Rakesh Kumar said that the buyers are coming from US, Canada, Germany, UK, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Sweden, Turkey, South Africa, Greece, Hungry, Czech, Poland, Australia, Japan, Kong Kong, New Zealand and countries from Latin America, Central Asia and West Asia.

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