The 53rd edition of India Handicraft and Gift Fair (IHGF-Delhi Fair–2022) kicked off yesterday at Greater Noida.
Organised by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), the 5-day-long event has around 2,500 exhibitors from across India, who are displaying products including home textiles, lifestyle, fashion, textiles and furniture.
The event is spread across 15 halls and 900 permanent showrooms at the India Expo Centre & Mart.
Darshana V. Jardosh, Union Minister of State for Textiles and UP Singh, Secretary, Textiles inaugurated the event.
Shantmanu, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts); Raj K Malhotra, Chairman, Dr. Rakesh Kumar, DG, EPCH and another official of EPCH were present on this occasion.
The Minister said that the fair symbolises the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan’ of Government of India as these large number of handicraft exporters produce the best of Indian home, lifestyle, fashion, textiles and furniture from the indigenously sourced raw material, thus earning much-needed foreign exchange for the country.
UP Singh appreciated the inclusion of several regional artisanal products from J&K, Ladakh, Rajasthan and North Eastern Regions, in Theme & Collective Presentations at the show, especially those made from eco-friendly and natural materials.
Reflecting on the present optimistic sentiment of the handicrafts industry, Dr. Rakesh Kumar, said, “Over the years, a large number of interventions related to backward linkages through entrepreneurship development, skilling, product and design development and forward linkages through marketing platforms for the complete development of the sector’s ecosystem have been amongst EPCH’s endeavours for the overall development of the handicrafts sector, leading to increased export. We hope to cross US $ 4 billion by the close of this financial year.”
