Branch out IHGF Fair into more product specific show : S.S. Gupta

21 Feb '11

4 min read

Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) S.S. Gupta has stressed the need to branch out this fair into more product specific shows on slightly smaller level to provide more focus on specific products.

“Another important decision has been to hold such product specific fairs at the cluster level. Jodhpur being an important cluster has been venue for Furniture & Accessories while NCR has been venue for Fashion Jewellery & Accessories. More such clusters are being decided for holding specific shows in future,” Mr. Gupta said this while speaking at the 31st edition of Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair (IHGF-Spring).

Ministry of Textiles, Office of DC(H) and Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), organizers of the fair, have jointly started the product specific show and the Government has already decided to release funds for design and development, technology and product upgradation and creation of infrastructure, he informed.

He lauded the role of EPCH for registering a continuous growth in this over the past years in terms of increase in number of exhibitors, number of buyers attending the fair, coverage in terms of countries, products on display, space covered and enquiries and business generated.

Mr. Gupta mentioned that the export during April–January, 2010-11 registered a growth of 26.72% in million US dollars and 21.09% in rupee terms. The export in January, 2011 is Rs. 651.33 crore and USD 143.47 million recording a growth of 36% in rupee terms and 39.47% in US dollars terms.

Development Commissioner (H) further said that “this is a very satisfactory growth rate. The efforts to diversify, reinvent and re-model the product structure and the market will help further in increasing the growth”.

Over 6500 foreign buyers from 31 countries, around 30 per cent more than the previous fair, are expected to source their requirements from over 900 product lines, styles and designs being showcased by around 2300 exhibitors from all across India under one roof spread over 97,000 square metres at the world class mart which also houses 900 permanent showrooms.

“This year, like in the past, we have received very good response from the overseas buyers sourcing their requirements from the exhibitors of this fair will exceed the number of last event. However, there is going to be a very wide representation of buyers in terms of countries and regions. The range of display at the fair is also very comprehensive and diversified,” said Mr. Raj Kumar Malhotra, Chairman of the EPCH.

Nearly all requirements for home and houseware, officeware, hotel and restaurants, lifestyles items, decorative and gifts are on display at this fair and the emphasis is not only on gifts and decorative but on all utility items for all segments of society, Mr. Malhotra added.

The Council Chairman further said “since the overseas buying community is looking at more product specific fairs, the EPCHhas already started organizing such fairs during the last two years. The Furniture Fair held at Jodhpur and Fashion Jewellery and Accessories Fair here have been a good success. The EPCH has, therefore, institutionalized both these fair to be held every year.”

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