The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) is the nodal agency for the promotion and development of handicrafts exports from India to various destinations of the world. The Council with the support of Embassy of India in Sweden and office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) organized a Buyer-Seller Meet from 22-23 November, 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden. The Buyer-Seller-Meet was inaugurated by H.E. Monika Kapil Mohta, Ambassador of India in Sweden along with and O.P. Prahladka, Chairman, EPCH and Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director, EPCH.
Kumar further said that, “26 Indian exporters are participating in this BSM and displaying a wide range of Indian Handicrafts, Home Furnishings, Floorings & Textiles, Indian Houseware & Decoratives, Fashion Accessories Shawls, Scarves, Bags, Fashion Garments and Christmas Décor from PAN India basis. The Buyer Seller Meet is a B2B exhibition for order booking for future sourcing of foreign buyers in Sweden.” With premium products to suit contemporary demands, manufacturers in India focus on freshness and new thinking. India’s exports to the Scandinavian Region have seen a healthy and consistent growth with our manufacturers & exporters growing knowledge of market trends and consumer preferences.
The objective of organizing this Buyer-Seller Meet is matchmaking of Indian companies with the Scandinavian companies interested in sourcing Indian Handicrafts, Home Furnishings, Floorings & Textiles, Indian Houseware & Decoratives, Fashion Accessories Shawls, Scarves, Bags, Fashion Garments and Christmas Décor, Gifts, Lifestyle products for the Scandinavian-Swedish market thereby creating a ‘Brand Image” of Indian Handicrafts amongst Scandinavian buyers.
The main exports markets for Indian handicrafts are USA followed by EU, Middle East and Far East. However, Scandinavian countries are emerging as a new potential destination for exports of Handicrafts. Indian Craftsmanship, Ethnic Designs and colours are unique and have no comparison with products from other countries. The range produced in India is very large and wide and the quality and price structure varies from high-end market to middle end market.
The Executive Director further elaborated that the Scandinavian countries are the potential markets for the Indian handicrafts. The total exports of handicrafts from India is US$ million 3573.49 in 2017-2018 to the world markets out of which exports handicrafts to Sweden stands at USD 28.00 million during the 2016-17 which increased to USD 29.03 million during 2017-18 registering a growth of 3.70%.
Rakesh Kumar hoped that this Buyer-Seller Meet in association with Indian Embassy & Embassy of Denmark will lead to a growth in Indo-Swedish Trade relations in the year ahead.
