- Participation of over 305 exhibitors
- Overseas carpet buyers from around 60 countries registered their presence on the first day of the fair
- Aim to benefit about two million weavers from intensive rural based MSME cottage industry
Organised by Carpet Export Promotion Council, India Carpet Expo was successfully held at NSIC Exhibition Ground, Okhla, New Delhi. The event was inaugurated on March 10, 2019 with lamp lighting ceremony by Raghvendra Singh, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, in the august presence of Shantmanu, IAS, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts). The Expo was organised with an aim to promote the cultural heritage and weaving skills of Indian hand-made carpets, and other floor coverings among the visiting overseas carpet buyers. Addressing the crowd at the event, Raghvendra Singh said: “We are very glad that CEPC organises this Expo twice every year to promote Indian weavers worldwide. Every year Expo generates a huge amount of business. We have everything handmade and hand weaved here, which is the major attraction to the foreign buyers.” Chairman, CEPC highlighted that carpet industry was not incorporated in the recent decision taken by cabinet for extending ROSL (Rebate on State Levies) to the handmade carpet industry. Raghvendra Singh, Secretary Textiles immediately called for a meeting on March 11, 2019 with the representatives of the Handmade Carpet Industry to present their case and assured his best possible support to the Handmade Carpet Industry.
Shantmanu, IAS, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) appreciated the efforts made by Chairman and Committee of Administration in organising India Carpet Expo on such a large scale and expressed hope that the benefit will ultimately go to the artisans and weavers. Mahavir Pratap Sharma, Chairman, CEPC said, “India carpet expo is an ideal platform for International Carpet Buyers, buying Agents, architects and Indian carpet manufacturers and exporters to meet and establish long term business relationship. This exhibition is a crucial step towards taking Indian exports of handmade carpet to much greater and newer heights. We have also set up a special theme pavilion wherein the experts of the industry are showcasing the process of carpet weaving through the concept of ergonomic and flexible tufting frame. “Sharma further added that orders worth over a thousand crore are expected to be executed. New fall-winter colours and designs are being showcased at the Carpet Expo. With the participation of over 305 exhibitors, it has become a popular destination worldwide for handmade carpets. A record number of 152 overseas carpet buyers from around 60 countries registered their presence on the first day of the fair. It is the endeavour of the Council to provide an exclusive business environment to both carpet importers as well as manufacturer-exporters, which ultimately will benefit about two million weavers and artisans employed in this highly labour intensive rural based MSME cottage industry. While Talking to Exhibition Showcase, Mr. Sharma Said, “Despite the fact that machine made sector is trying to take our place, the handmade sector has a variety of over 100 products to offer. Moreover life span of the handmade products is far more as compared machine made carpets. We can do customization in shape, size, colour and materials which is not so easy in the mechanised carpet. We can do one rug or ten rugs, but the machine made has to be in bulk. So we have many advantages, it’s just simple marketing and putting products at right level will help handmade improve and beat machine made sector in the future.”
