The 49th edition of Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF Delhi Fair-Spring 2020) has got cancelled.

Organised by Export Promotion Services & Supporting Council Handicrafts (EPCH), the event was scheduled to take place from 15 to 19 April 2020 and was postponed earlier.

Initial estimate of the impact of the Coronavirus crisis on the handicraft sector is approximately 8,000 to 10,000 crore, which includes the loss of orders of around 4,000 crore which could have been generated from the 49th edition IHGF Delhi fair.

As per EPCH, a special promotional scheme of hotel accommodation at a concessional rate to the overseas buyers was also offered wherein 8,000 hotel rooms all across Delhi-NCR were booked.

Over 10,000 visitors including 7,000 overseas buyers and their representatives were expected to turn up for the show.

“The objective of keeping the fair postponed was that EPCH was hoping that the COVID-2019 situation will improve and fair can be in organised sometime in June/July.  Since the situation has further worsened and the nation is in a state of lockdown, it has become totally unviable to organise a show of such magnitude in near future; hence 49th edition of IHGF-Delhi Fair Spring which was to be held from 15 to 19 April 2020 stands cancelled,” informed Rakesh Kumar, Director General, EPCH.

IHGF is amongst Asia’s largest gifts & handicrafts fair, held biannually (Spring & Autumn edition). Thousands of handicraft exporters, including apparels and home furnishing, across India, used to participate in this event and get good business from global as well as Indian buyers.

The 50th edition of IHGF-Delhi Fair Autumn will be organised from 14 to 18 October 2020.