Shri Rakesh Kumar, Director General – EPCH informed that Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair has been declared a leading trade show by Indian Exhibition Industry Association during 9th edition of IEIA open seminar being held from 13-15 June, 2019 at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida. The IHGF is one of the amongst other 8 shows such as IITF, Auto Expo, Iconic Indian exhibitions, ELECRAMA, India ITME IMTEX and Plast India declared as leading shows of India and play key role as multiplier of economic growth of the Country.
IEIA Open seminar is a platform to build business network, explore partnership, share knowledge, discuss concerns and address industry challenges for building a stronger industry. This year edition is being attended by more than 800 exhibition industry professionals from around 28 countries. Dr. Anup Wadhawan, Commerce Secretary was the Chief Guest during inauguration of the IEIA Open seminar on 13th June, 2019. Commerce Secretary assured support to entire exhibition sector and in particular to India Expo Centre & Mart. Shri Kumar while receiving award alongwith team of EPCH said right since its inception in 1986, EPCH has been playing a stellar role in projecting India’s image abroad as a reliable source of inimitable handcrafted items being produced and manufactured by more than 7 million artisans and craftpersons scattered in different craft clusters of the Country.
Shri Kumar while speaking on the occasion said that receiving award for IHGF as leading trade show in India took him down the memory lanes when EPCH conceived organising Indian Handicrafts & Gifts [ IHGF]. The first edition of the show held in January 1994 in Spring season with 313 exhibitors covering 5500 sq. mtrs at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi and in 1996 Autumn edition of the IHGF was introduced to the International buying community. With the passage of time, the show progressed in leaps and bounds. The IHGF has been revamped, renamed as IHGF-Delhi Fair with new theme, bigger space, grander in product display and longer in duration in 2014. This fair was initiated in the year 1994 as IHGF has reached its 48th edition during IHGF-Delhi Fair Autumn 2019 with an area spreadover in more than 190,000 sq. mtrs area, 14 product categories and more than 2000 styles and products on display and has become so popular in the world market that it attracts more than 5000 overseas buyers in each edition to source their requirements from more than 3200 Indian companies participating at this fair.
Looking at the largest participation by Indian Handicrafts exhibitors, Limca Book of World Records have recognized IHGF-Delhi Fair as the world largest congregation of handicrafts exhibitors under one roof.
Shri Kumar informed that IHGF-Delhi fair is playing vital role in increasing handicrafts exports from the Country apart from providing employment to skilled and unskilled artisans and craftpersons belonging weaker sections of the society. Since inception of EPCH numerous export promotion efforts over the years have brought about a sea change in India’s handicrafts exports. The exports which was Rs. 387 crores in 1986-98 have reached to the tune of Rs. 26,590.25 [prov.] crores in 2018-19, new markets have been explored, new products and designs have been sourced, export trade has widened its scope and reach.
Shri Kumar said that all credit goes to the handicrafts exporting community in achieving IHGF as the leading trade show in the Country and for posing faith in the Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair for the last more than 24 years and also to the International buying community from all across the globe who year after year is increasing to visit and source the requirement of home, lifestyle, textiles and fashion products from IHGF-Delhi Fair.
