The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) is the nodal agency for the promotion and development of handicrafts exports from India to various destinations of the world. The Council with the support of Embassy of India in Denmark and office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) organised a Buyer-Seller Meet from November 19–20 in Copenhagen, Denmark, informed Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director–EPCH.
The Buyer-Seller-Meet was inaugurated on November 19 by H E Ajit Gupte, Ambassador of India in Denmark along with and O P Prahladka, Chairman–EPCH and Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director–EPCH.
Kumar further said that the Buyer Seller Meet in the Scandinavian Region has been a successful event being organized by the Council in Copenhagen, Denmark. 26 Indian exporters are participating in this BSM and displaying a wide range of Indian Handicrafts, Home Furnishings, Floorings and Textiles, Indian Houseware and Decoratives, Fashion Accessories Shawls, Scarves, Bags, Fashion Garments and Christmas Décor from PAN India basis. The Buyer Seller Meet is a B2B exhibition for order booking for future sourcing of foreign buyers in Denmark.
With premium products to suit contemporary demands, manufacturers in India focus on freshness and new thinking. India's exports to the Scandinavian Region have seen a healthy and consistent growth with our manufacturers and exporters growing knowledge of market trends and consumer preferences.
The objective of organising this Buyer-Seller Meet is match making of Indian companies with the Scandinavian companies interested in sourcing Indian handicrafts, home furnishings, floorings and textiles, Indian houseware and decoratives, fashion accessories shawls, scarves, bags, fashion garments and Christmas Décor, gifts, Lifestyle products for the Scandinavian market thereby creating a 'Brand Image' of Indian Handicrafts amongst Scandinavian buyers.
The main exports markets for Indian handicrafts are USA followed by EU, Middle East and Far
East. However, Scandinavian
countries are emerging as a new potential destination for exports of Handicrafts. Indian Craftsmanship, Ethnic Designs and colours are unique and have no comparison with products from other countries. The range produced in India is very large and wide and the quality and price structure varies from high-end market to middle end market.
The Executive Director further elaborated that the Scandinavian countries are the potential markets for the Indian handicrafts. The exports of handicrafts from India are at US$ million 3573.49 in 2017–2018. The exports of India handicrafts to Denmark was of USD 26.50 million during the 2016-17 which increased to USD 28.94 million during 2017–18 registering a growth of 9.19%.
Rakesh Kumar hopes that with the overwhelming response and buyers turn out at Buyer-seller-meet will further lead to a growth in Indo-Danish Trade relations in the year ahead.