India seeks global markets for handicrafts
India seeks global markets for handicrafts
New Delhi, India : The government of India is optimistic that the country's handicraft products will be able to compete with those of neighbouring countries, including China, according to a senior official.
“We are quite ready and confident to compete with others from almost everywhere in the world in terms of handicraft products,” Union Minister of State for Textiles Mr Santosh Kumar Gangwar told local and foreign media representatives on Sunday during his visit to the fair.
The fair was organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) of India at the India Expo Centre & Mart from February 20-23, aimed at promoting the Indian handicrafts industry and also offering the opportunity for exhibitors and foreign buyers to interact with manufacturers directly.
“China is the biggest competitor in the global market; however the Indian handicrafts sector is entirely confident of its ability to compete with them,” Mr Gangwar said.
“We are chasing after China when it comes to the world-wide search for markets for handicraft products,” he added .
According to the fair organisers, India has more than seven million artisans and craftsmen all around the country and about 50 percent of handmade products are produced for export to other countries, mainly America, Canada, Europe and Asia.
In the year 2013-14, Indian exports reached over US$3.8 billion and are expected to jump to US$4.5 billion this year, according to the board of organisers.
Mr Gangwar, who is in charge of the handicrafts sector, also said that in India handicrafts have become the second largest sector after agriculture, so the government plans to boost this sector as a priority.
When asked about plans to export handicrafts to Southeast Asian countries, including Laos, Mr Gangwar said this was a possibility but it would be at some future date.
“We don't have any plans to export to Asean countries yet but this will be discussed eventually,” h e said.
One buyer from France, Mr Jean Luis, said the fair was huge and featured a lot of handmade products that took a lot of time to be manufactured.
“I have bee n to many fairs in different countries recently, buying distinctly identifiable handicraft products, but this fair is the most impressive of all,” he said, adding that a huge range of products was on display.
The fair was first held in 1994, when it was recognised as the largest gifts and handicrafts exhibition in Asia, allowing the craftsmen and women producing handmade items to show the entire range of gifts and handicrafts produced in India to overseas buyers.
More than 1,250 types of product were on display including household goods, décor items, decorative articles and a lot more.
Since its inception the fair has attracted a total of 8,000 foreign buyers and the number of exhibitors has jumped from 313 to more than 2,600.
This year's fair boasted more than 5,200 trade visitors including overseas visitors, buying agents and domestic volume retailers, the organisers noted during the closing ceremony on Monday.
