Handicrafts and gifts fair from today
Noida Plus
NOIDA:13 October '06
With a spotlight on the global market, the Autumn 2006 22nd edition of Asia’s biggest Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF) will begin in Greater Noida from today. With a strong participation of over 2000 leading exporters, the exhibition is expected to attract more than 7000 overseas buyers representing importers and wholesalers from 57 countries. This five day event from October 13 through October 17 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. is being held for the first time at the India Expo Centre & Mart in Greater Noida over an area of 80,000 sq. mtrs.
The fair will provide a wide spectrum of handicrafts diversity of the country, though the focus shall be on lesser-known handicrafts. The fair is expected to generate spot orders worth Rs.1500 crore besides giving a major impetus to the efforts of Export Promotion Council Handicrafts (EPCH), the organizer on a long-term basis. Says the EPCH Chairman, Navrattan Samdaria, "The exhibitors at the fair would cover more than 100 categories in various sections. However, the focus would be on houseware, gifts, Christmas decorations, candles and incense sticks, fashion jewelry, fashion accessories and bags, home textiles, furnishings, furniture, floor coverings, home accessories, cane and bamboo products as well as eco-friendly products." Adds Rakesh Kumar, Director of the India Expo Centre & Mart in Greater Noida and Managing Director of EPCH, "For the last few years, the IHGF has come to be recognized as a ’one stop sourcing event’ amongst the overseas community. The buyers wait for this event to source their requirements and explore the new products and categories. IHGF displays around 800 types of designs, styles, colors, concepts and raw materials etc. All these styles are very unique of the Indian culture and heritage and we are now finding a great potential in the overseas markets." As per the last few events of IHGF, EPCH expects dominance of buyers from US and Europe in the Spring Fair. However, it is expected to have a sizeable number of buyers from Latin American region, central Asian countries and Africa. Traditional buyers from countries like Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and New Zealand are also expected in large numbers.
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