Union Textiles Minister Dr KS Rao declared open the four-day-long Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (Autumn) 2013, being organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), at a colourful ceremony here today.
While inaugurating the 36th edition of IHGF, the minister pointed out that artisans who are the backbone of this industry are not getting proper attention. They do not get their due for their livelihood. Ministry of Textiles is taking all steps for the welfare of artisans and their families.
Indian handicraft sector has full potential and his ministry will extend all assistance for the promotion of this sector in all possible ways to see that Indian handicrafts products should be seen in each and every country of the world.
He further said, “There is hardly any emphasis on the research and development of designs and product innovation. Considerable work has to be done by the exporting community to re-orient designs, colours and pattern of the product produced in India to suit the international requirement. All is required is to re-invest, re-design and re-adopt the same to suit the international buying community and develop products suitable to the particular buying region or country.”
Dr Rao also lauded the role of EPCH in development of design, product technology, adaption, setting up of Common Facility Centres etc in addition to organising seminars and workshops, skill development and awareness programmes. All these efforts must have contributed substantially to the promotion of handicrafts worldwide.
Dr Rao also released the fair directory.
Professor Abhishek Mishra, Minister of State for Science and Technology, Government of Uttar Pradesh said, “UP welcomes the holding of fairs of this scale at such a platform.”
He said, “Uttar Pradesh contributes 40 per cent of the total export of handicrafts from the country and it is increasing year on year basis from all pockets of handicrafts including Moradabad, Bhadohi, lucknow, Varanasi and other pockets.”He assured that the Uttar Pradesh Government will extend possible help to the exporting community to increase the same further.
Earlier in his welcome address, lekhraj Maheshwari, Chairman-EPCH informed that IHGF is the only show taking place in Asian continent which has totally domestic participation with international audience whereas in all other fairs held worldwide generally participation is from many countries and visitors domestic and international. Over the years, the fair on a sustained basis has attracted large number of buyers from different parts of the world in each of the editions of this event.
Rakesh, executive director, EPCH said that the present fair has 2500 exhibitors including 900 permanent marts drawn from nearly all corners and parts of the country displaying a very diverse range of product produced out of varied raw material basis. “We expect buyers from our leading markets in American and European continents beside many buyers from new and emerging markets in latin America, Central Asia, Far East and Middle East. Two seminars will be organised during the fair entitled “Vriksh Timber legality Assessment and Verification System” on October 16 and “Opportunities for Foreign Investment in Handicrafts Sector” on October17 at the board room of fair venue,” he further added.