February 10, 2002
`19’
ASIA’S LARGEST INDIAN HANDICRAFTS AND GIFT MEGA FAIR
The four-day Indian Handicrafts & Gift (Spring) 2000, Mega Fair was inaugurated at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi by Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Kashiram Rana. While inaugurating the Asia’s largest fair organised by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), the Minister of Textiles admitted that the growth of exports in cottage sector has been affected due to various reasons, but it is a temporary phase and the industry will overcome all the difficulties shortly. Government is committed to protect the handicrafts and rich culture of the country, and for which the Ministry of Textiles had already initiated aggressive market promotion programmes focusing heavy markets and select product groups. The medium term export strategy is targeting 1% of global trade, but with all efforts put together, the industry can definitely surpass this target, he hoped.
Mr. S. Mohapatra, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles on this occasion urged the Indian handicraft exporters to upgrade their skill and develop products of international standard to face the challenge from handicraft exporter from countries like China, Taiwan, Hong-Kong, Thailand and Pakistan. He said that in the recent years, smaller countries of South East Asia and Far East are making in-roads into the traditional markets of Indian handicrafts. This shows an urgency on the part of Indian handicraft exporters to improve quality, adhere to schedules and increase production capacity which is possible with marginal up gradation of technology and improving of export marketing techniques.
The Chairman, EPCH, Mr. Satypapal stating the purpose behind organising such mega event said demand for Indian Handicrafts is on the increase in the world market and the total exports of handicrafts during 2001-2002 were worth Rs. 6955 crores.
Mr. D. Kumar, Chairman of the Indian Handicrafts and Gift Fair (IHGF) said that more than 900 leading handicraft and gifts manufacture exporters from all over the country are participating in the fair. It is estimated that 30,000 visitors from India and abroad will get an opportunity for business interactions. With the growing international concern for environment and increasing demand for lesser known traditional Indian handicrafts, the fair is witnessing increase participation from handmade paper, jute, terracotta, textiles (using vegetable dyes), dry flowers and alternate wood product manufacturers. The other product range having more than hundred categories at the fair include woodcraft, metalcrafts, garden articles, fashion jewellery, traditional textiles products, crafted stones, musical instruments dress materials, furnishing bags, clock and iron crafts.