46th IHGF-Delhi fair comes to end

The 46th edition of IHGF Delhi Fair Autumn 2018 concluded with a bang on October 18 at India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida with business enquiries worth Rs 3465 crores.

The closing day witnessed the valedictory session, wherein, Bhupendra Singh Choudhary, Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Public Works Department, launched the product catalogue of Home Décor and Home Textiles along with Ritesh Kumar Gupta, MLA Moradabad Nagar.

Rakesh Kumar, ED –EPCH welcomed the chief guests and apprised them about IHGF-Delhi Fair. He said, " It started in 1994 with 313 and today over 3200 exhibitors are displaying home, lifestyles, textiles and fashion products."

Speaking on the event, Bhupendra Singh Choudhary, MOS for Panchayati Raj said that a large number of exporters from Moradabad are participating in this show and he also wished them good business. "Export is backbone of the country as it earns foreign exchange. Therefore, this fair will become a vital platform for increasing export."

Even though the overseas buyers from 110 countries visited the show but maximum buyers from USA, UK, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, UAE, China, Brazil, Canada, South Africa and Saudi Arabia came to source their requirement from over 3200 Indian handicrafts exhibitors who showcased 2000+ designs and styles.

Talking about the event and this year's business at the fair, Rakesh Kumar said, "The IHGF-Delhi fair has played a vital role in increasing exports of handicrafts from the country. The handicrafts exports was to the tune of Rs 751.67 crores in 1993-94 when the fair was initiated. The Handicrafts exports during the year 2017-18 was Rs 23,029.36 crores. However, the exports of handicrafts during first six months of the current financial year 2018-19 is Rs 12953.25 crores [prov] with overall increase of 6.58% in rupee terms over the previous year." "Buyers from new countries like Benin, Fiji, Latvia, Rwanda and Dominican Republic have been added in the list of 46th edition of IHGF-Delhi fair," he informed.

Representatives from departmental and chain stores who were regularly visiting every year including Herold, Deetjen and Meyer, Lambert GMBH, Germany, Kapimex BV, Only Natural, Riviera Maison, Lifestyle Home Collection, Zara Home, Spain among others were also present at the show.

Many dignitaries from centre and state government also came to encourage the participants including Ajay Tamta, Union Minister of State for Textiles, Giriraj Singh, Union Minister of State for MSME, aong others. Also, Ambassadors of various embassies were also seen becoming the part of the mega event held in the Capital.

Theme pavilions of NER, Jodhpur/ Barmer were the main highlights of the fair as exquisite crafts of these states attracted many buyers to visit these theme pavilions.

A record number of domestic volume retail buyers sourced the home, lifestyle, furniture products from the show witnessing the growing demand in the domestic market. The 47th edition of IHGF-Delhi Spring 2019 will be held from 18 – 22 February, at India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida and EPCH has already initiated publicity world wide.