The 53^rd edition of one of the world’s largest handicrafts fairs - IHGF-Delhi fair will open to overseas buyers, buying and sourcing professionals  as well as large domestic volume retail buyers on 30^th March, 2022 at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida.

Addressing a curtain raiser  press conference today, Shri Raj Kumar Malhotra, Chairman, EPCH said that  the five day fair (30^th March – 3^rd April 2022) brings home, lifestyle, fashion, textiles and furniture products by 2500+ handicrafts exporters from across the country. He further said, the fair is one of its kind and this edition will have a wide-ranging selection of 2000+ new products and 300+ design expressions spanning across 14 product categories such as houseware, home furnishing, furniture, gifts and decoratives, lamps and lighting, Christmas & festive décor, fashion jewellery & accessories, spa & wellness, carpets and rugs, bathroom accessories, garden accessories, educational toys & games, handmade paper products & stationery and leather bags. He also mentioned that the exhibition will have emphatic representation of craft manufacturing hubs and clusters, at the India Expo Centre Halls and 900 permanent showrooms in the Mart area, making this a comprehensive sourcing destination.

Speaking to media, Dr. Rakesh  Kumar, Director General, EPCH
stated  that  Theme Pavilions depicting crafts from North Eastern Region, Rajasthan, Ladakh, J&K and Bihar will be among attractions for the visiting overseas buying community. He welcomed the Indian Govt.’s proposed lifting of international travel restrictions from 27^th March 2022 which would ease buyers’ transit. Dr. Kumar further   that though there are hardly any traces of the COVID 19 virus in India and Delhi NCR as such, EPCH is organising this fair with all necessary safety protocols and SOPs for organising B2B trade expositions issued by WHO and Govt. of India. EPCH has laid down guidelines to be followed by exhibitors, buyers and visitors at the fair venue which include thermal scanning at entry, colour badge wise entry, compulsory face masks, hand sanitization machines, maintaining physical distancing, respiratory etiquettes, medical facility, Isolation centre at the venue, COVID enforcement officer, Aarogya Setu App (for domestic visitors), CCTV, F&B services with requisite hygiene standards, etc.

Dr. Kumar further informed that it is noteworthy that against all odds, the handicrafts sector has sustained manufacturing and exports, through the pandemic. The continued virtual trade shows to keep engaged with buyers and the first post pandemic physical show – the 52^nd IHGF Delhi Fair-Autumn 2021, have contributed to the sector achieving estimated exports of Rs. 29626.96 Crores (US $ 3981.72 Million) during eleven months (April-February) of 2021-22, which is significantly higher than the exports during April-March 2020-21 which stood at Rs. 25679.98  (US $ 3459.75 Million), he added.

He informed  that Overseas buyers from over 90 countries have pre-registered to visit the fair. Registrations are from the  UK, USA, Canada, Germany, France, reunion, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, Greece, Italy, Sweden, Malta, Denmark, Turkey,  Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Ireland,  Poland, Hungary, Portugal, Israel, Australia,  New Zealand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Romania, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Ukraine, Uruguay, Honduras, Ecuador, Argentina, Jamaica, Bolivia, Trinidad & Tobago, Benin, Botswana, Ghana, Algeria, Angola, Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Oman, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, South Africa,  Mauritius, Mozambique, Belarus, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, UAE, Iran, Slovakia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Lithuania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Uzbekistan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Bangladesh, China, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam and many more.

The show will also have visitors from major Indian Retail/online brands including Amazon, Flipkart, Reliance Brands Limited, Fab India, Praxis Home Retail Limited, @Home by Nilkamal Limited, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail ltd, Westside, Future Group, Archies, Qalara, One Stop Retail Private Limited, Shoppers Stop, Home Centre, Myntra, DLF Brands, Good Earth Design Studio, M2K Group, Handicrafts Bazaar, Home & Bazaar, Claymint, The Wishing Chair, Ambience Interior Mall, Furniturewalla, Home Centre etc.

Knowledge seminars with expert faculty from India and overseas, will be on various topical issues of trade importance like Cross  Border B2B e-Commerce, Trends & Forecast, Curating, Cyber Security & Proactive Measures, Packaging Solutions, Techniques to save Money Remittances, Social Media Promotion, etc. Ramp presentation too will be part of the five days show

Shri  Raj Kumar Malhotra informed that  in order to give wide publicity, the Council has undertaken extensive promotion and publicity campaign all across the globe through digital advertisements in International magazines, their digital publications, online portals, web banners etc. Further, Indian Embassies extended invitation to buyers and importers in their respective countries. The fair has been widely covered in digital publications and social media, he added.

15^th edition of IFJAS will be co-located and held concurrently. This is the Indian Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Show, also organized by EPCH that would showcase fashion jewellery & accessories.

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AM/TFK

(Release ID: 1809277) Visitor Counter : 1505