The handicraft sector plays a vital role in enhancing India's exports and for employment generation at the grass-root level. This was stated by Mr. Shanker Sinh Vaghela, Union Minister of Textiles in an exclusive interview to tradeindia.com in the sidelines of the inaugural function of the Spring edition of India Handicraft and Gift Fair (IHGF) at the India Expo mart, in Greater Noida recently.

"If the handicraft sector is able to export more, it will also help in providing employment to thousands of unemployed," he said.

Brushing aside allegations of child-labour in the sector, Mr. Vaghela said, "Most of our handicraft units operate from rural households. Elders create these products and sell them in the markets that are close by. So helping one's parents once or twice at home cannot amount to exploitation," he added.

The fair which was inaugurated on Saturday will come to an end on March 4.

About IHGF, Mr. Vaghela said, "The fair has enabled Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to expand their business besides generating employment in the sector as well as improving the living standard of large number of artisans."

The other dignitaries present in the inaugural function included Mr. Sudhir Tyagi, Chairman, Export Promotion council for Handicrafts, Mr. Sanjay Agarwal, Development commissioner (Handicrafts), Textile Ministry and Mr. Rakesh Kumar Executive Director, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) amongst others.

"For the first time, the fair has carved out a segmented display of products. This fair has five major sections - fashion jewellery, Christmas decoration, home textiles and general decoration handicrafts," Mr. Rakesh Kumar said.

He further added that the display in this edition will make it easy and convenient for overseas buyers to select manufacturers and exporters as per their needs.

The duration of the fair has been extended from four days to six days which will not only do justice to the craftsmen and the products on display, but also to the exhibition. The USP of this fair is the usage of varied raw material ranging from metals, wood, natural fibers, manmade fibers, leather etc. More than 900 products styles designs and colours are being displayed in this edition. This time IHFG is expected to do business of more than Rs 750 crore, Mr. Kumar added.

Mr. Sudhir Tyagi said, "In the past, buyers mentioned that owing to its short duration, they missed out number of exhibitors and thus also missed out on goods, number of new products, designs and styles being showcased by Indian exporters. I am confident that the segmented sections and the extended duration will help in better business generation, developing better awareness about Indian products, prices and strengths.

"Every segment has something new to display keeping buyers interested and satisfied at the gamut of products on display catering to whole range of tastes and various designers. The response in first two days was very much encouraging and definitely will bring lots of business activities," Mr Tyagi added.

Ms. Akash Menon

(Tradeindia Expert)

M/S Menon Exports and Designing Ltd.

MD, M/S Menon Exports and Designing Ltd.
New Delhi, India