36th India Carpet Expo comes to Varanasi

The 36th edition of India Carpet Expo, organised by Carpet Export Promotion Council at Trade facilitation Center and Craft Museum, Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) was inaugurated on October 21 by Narandra Modi, Prime Minister through video conferencing at Amphitheatre near the museum.

Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister of Textiles presided over the function as Chief Guest, lighted the lamps in the gracious presence of important personalities like Raghvendra Singh, IAS, Secretary (Textiles); Shantmanu, IAS, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts); Virendra Singh, Member of Parliament from Bhadohi; Ravinder Nath Tripathi, MLA Bhadohi, along with senior officials from the state government, overseas buyers.

Mahavir Pratap Sharma, Chairman, CEPC along with Siddh Nath Singh, firstVice-Chairman and Umer Hameed, second Vice-Chairman and members of the committee of administration were also present at the occasion.

Narendra Modi in his address expressed his happiness and said that the fair has been able to take one step forward towards achieving the objective for which the foundation of the Deendayal Sankul was laid 23 months ago in Bada Lalpur Varanasi. PM Modi in his address also stated, "Handloom and Handicrafts Sector is intrinsic part of our rich heritage and Varanasi has always played prominent role in show cashing beauty of Indian Handicrafts to the world."

Prime Minister was happy over the growth rate of Indian handmade carpet industry in the last five years and said he is hopeful to achieve the goal of exports of Rs 25000 crores by the year 2025. He also assured full support to the Indian handmade carpet industry to achieve the desired goals and stressed the need of "zero defect zero effect" and the 5-F concept – farm to fibre, fibre to factory, factory to fashion, fashion to foreign. Further, he emphasized on the use of technology in carpet sector and he assured that the government is committed towards facilitating exporting community for the best technology so that they can compete with their competitors in the world market.

In her inaugural speech, Smriti Zubin Irani, mentioned various initiatives taken by the government for the growth of the sector, and she said that expo will directly connect weavers and the traders to the world. Expressing her happiness over the setting up of warehouse in China by CEPC for the benefit of carpet exporters, she informed that her ministry is ready to provide all necessary support in setting up the similar warehousing facility in US. While referring to the demands made by the carpet industry for non-entitlement of Buyers from developed countries and relaxation of Income Tax Exemption. She assured that she will recommend and forward the demand of the industry to the concerned department.

Many important dignitaries were seenvisiting the exhibition, and saw the arrangement and facilities available at fair ground. They also met the participating exhibitors and appreciated the new developments created by the Indian Carpet Manufacturers. They also met the overseas buyers and appreciate the efforts made by Carpet Export Promotion Council in providing such a great infrastructure to the manufacturers from Varanasi-Bhadohi-Mirzapur belt for promoting Indian Carpets and helping the artisans and weavers of this area.

Some of the leading and reputed buyers from US, UK, Brazil South Africa, and other European Countries who visited the fair were very much impressed with the display of various handmade carpets and other floor coverings and arrangements made by the organizers.

The ongoing expo, which is organised under the aegis of Government of India – focuses on the highly labour intensive 'Indian handmade carpet industry' and, aims to provide employment to about 20 lakhs workers/ artisans especially women directly or indirectly in the rural areas.

With the participation of over 305 exhibitors, India Carpet Expo is one of the largest handmade carpet fairs in Asia with a unique platform for the buyers to source the best floor coverings under one roof.