The 41st edition of IHGF Delhi Fair Spring 2016 saw over 4700 trade visitors including international buyers and saw the participation of over 2800 exhibitors. Rakesh Kumar, chairman, IEMl and ED- EPCH shares that more than thousands of different products were displayed
Business enquires worth Rs1,625 crore are generated as curtains are drawn today to mark the closing of 41st edition of IHGF Delhi fair Spring 2016 (earlier known as IHGF) organised at the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) – the nodal agency for promotion and development of handicrafts in the country. Over 4,700 trade visitors including International buyers, buying agents, domestic volume retailers interacted with over 2,800 exhibitors making it the largest fair of home, lifestyles and fashion products and the most sought after one stop platform to source Indian handicrafts informed Rakesh Kumar, Chairman-IEMl and ED-EPCH.
The spectacular display of traditional Indian art and craft mesmerized overseas volume buyers from more than 110 countries like USA, UK, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, Algeria, Austria, Australia, Bahrain, Bahamas, Botswana, Belgium, Cameron and Central Africa, Canada, Croatia, China, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungry, Hong Kong, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, UAE, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Uruguay, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Ghana, Italy, Iran, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kenya, Kuwait, latavia, lebanon, lithuania, Mali, Malaysia, Mexico, Mauritius, Morocco, Muscat, Namibia, Newzeland, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Congo, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Singapore and Indian volume retail visitors have visited the show.
A buyer Ipek Taneri from Turkey said, “This is the first time that I have visited this fair. I was not expecting such a big exhibition, but what I see here is surprising. I have placed few sample orders as of now. I plan to visit this Fair in the coming years as well.”
Foreign media from African and lAC region were also invited to cover the home, lifestyles and fashion products which are still unexplored in these countries.
More than 2000 types of products including Houseware, tableware, kitchenware, hotelware, Home furnishing, home textiles, linens and made ups, Festive décor, christmas, Halloween, valentines, birthdays, anniversaries celebrations, fashion jewellery, bags, scarves, ties, fashion compliments, luggage, leather bags, and cases, Furniture, hardware and accessories, carpets, rugs and floorings, bathroom accessories, spa and wellness, candles, incense, made ups, burners, potpourri and aromatics, stationery, handmade paper items and greeting cards, lamps and lighting, chandeliers, lampshades, lanterns, Decorative articles and giftware, garden ornaments, lawn accessories, Sustainable products, jute, cane, bamboos, natural fibres, hand woven mats, educational games, trophies, games, toys were on display.
Various informative seminars such as positioning of North Eastern Region handicrafts in domestic and overseas markets, clean technology for metalware industries in Moradabad, Trends and forecast for Spring Summer 2017, necessary compliances in handicrafts sector, Timber legality Assessment and verification scheme, Green sustainable products – trends and forecast, increase in exports through effective use of digital medium, exploring new markets for development and promotion of exports of Indian handicrafts, explore European market for outdoor furniture etc. during four event.
‘A mega panel discussion on retail and e-commerce: Partners in Progress- Kal aaj aur kal 2014-2016-2018’, etc. was held on 3rd day of the fair in which renowned retailers and e-commerce leaders such as Kumar Rajagopalan (CEO, Retailers Association of India, Navin Mistry – Head e-bay, Vivek R Category Head –Flipkart India Pvt. ltd., Wenketesh – Category Head Amazon, Vikram Chitnis from Home Stop, Kashyap Vadapalli Chief Marketing Officer and Business Head – Peppefry.com, Sitaram Kumar Vice President - Home Centre India, Sonali Bhandari – Senior Executive Westside, Ashish Jhalani, Founder E-tailing India and Karan Jethwani Co ordinator - Domestic Retail Promotions at Export Promotion Council For Handicrafts were present informed Rakesh Kumar, ED-EPCH.While welcoming the retailers and e-commerce leaders during mega panel discussion, Kumar said that The handicrafts sector has a lot of variety of products and I am sure that after the visit to the fair the panelist would really make up their mind to concentrate in this sector in a big way which can really become one of the profit centers for them in their stores. The handicrafts in present scenario is not merely a product made out of the clay, iron or some other material but it is now being introduced by the best and renowned brand of the world in entire home, lifestyle, fashion and gifts segment and handicrafts exporters should seriously look into domestic market too alongwith overseas markets.The show has become “One stop Sourcing destination” for major International brands Bloomingdales, Macy, K-Mart, Wall Mart, Pier 1, Mark and Spencers, Woolworth, Karstadt, Peek and Cloppen Berg, Carrefour, hobby lobby.The exports of handicrafts in nine months of current financial year is Rs14,782.10 (2015-16) against Rs13,460.25 crores in the preceding period of 2014-15, thereby showing growth of 9.82 per cent in rupee terms and 3.02 per cent in dollars terms. The handicraft exports is set to achieve its target of Rs20.368 crores (US$ 3233 million) for the year 2015-16 despite the decline in many sectors of merchandise exports from India.