Over 7,000 overseas buyers to visit Handicrafts Fair

New Delhi, Feb 20 (UNI) Over 7,000 foreign buyers are expected to visit Asia's largest gifts and handicrafts fair at Greater Noida Expressway, in the National Capital Region of Delhi from February 22, in which more than 2,000 leading Indian producers and exporters from all parts of the country will exhibit about 800 varieties of products.

The fair held twice a year -- Spring and Autumn -- is being organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).

The five-day-long 23rd edition of the Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF)(Spring) 2007 will present refreshing new designs and ideas to overseas buyers from across the globe, Mr Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director, EPCH, told reporters at a curtain raiser press conference here today.

The fair, being held since 1994, is now recognised as a 'One Stop Sourcing Destination' for all overseas buyers, he added.

The mega event will provide anunlimited choice for sourcing the finest in houseware, decorative and gifts items to Departmental Stores, Specialty Stores, Mail Order Houses, Catalogue Houses, Interior Designers, Retail Stores, Consultants, Architects, Distributors, Agents and Importers.

The range of display will include houseware, decorative and gifts, home textiles, furnishings, furniture, floor coverings, home accessories, Christmas decorative, candles and incense sticks, fashion jewellery, bags and purses, cane and bamboo products.

EPCH Executive Director said that the fair will have some exclusive features like Trend Forum, Thematic Display of handicrafts from southern Region and exclusive pavilion of product of North Eastern Region.

Mr Rakesh Kumar further said Indian products are unique as Indian designs are ethnic and oriental in nature and the colours and patterns depict the Indian heritage and culture.

Today the handicraft exports from India stand at more than 3300 million dollars and Handicrafts industry employs more than six million skilled and semi-skilled craftspersons all over the country, predominantly in rural and semi-rural areas.

The maximum concentration of buyers has been from the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, Canada and Australia, yet sizable number of buyers from countries like Saudi Arabia, South Africa, UAE, Russia, Belgium, Norway, Poland, Turkey, Swiitzerland, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Lebanon, Cyprus, Mauritius, New Zealand and other countries.

The 22nd edition of the IHGF Autumn fair in October last year generated a business worth over Rs 1,200 crore and this Spring fair is expected to surpass business worth over Rs 1,500 crore.

UNI