"The five-day-long 46th edition of IHGF Delhi Fair -Autumn 2018 is a B2B mega show organized by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) under one-roof spread over in 1,90,000 sq. mtrs. area. IHGF – Delhi Fair offer an exclusive passage to the visitors to India to source the distinctive, fascinating and inspirational products of home, lifestyle, fashion and textiles which are utilitarian, aesthetic, creative, decorative, traditional, socially symbolic and significant said Shri O.P. Prahladka, Chairman – EPCH."

Greater Noida – 12TH October, 2018 - The state-of-the-art exhibition venue India Expo Centre & Mart at Greater Noida will be abuzz with activities when overseas buyers from across the globe descend on the venue for sourcing from the world’s largest handicrafts fair IHGF-Delhi Fair Autumn scheduled to be held from October 14-18, 2018.

The five-day-long 46th edition of IHGF Delhi Fair -Autumn 2018 is a B2B mega show organized by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) under one-roof spread over in 1,90,000 sq. mtrs. area. IHGF – Delhi Fair offer an exclusive passage to the visitors to India to source the distinctive, fascinating and inspirational products of home, lifestyle, fashion and textiles which are utilitarian, aesthetic, creative, decorative, traditional, socially symbolic and significant said Shri O.P. Prahladka, Chairman – EPCH.

For the first time, over 3200 Manufacturers and exhibitors from across the Country will put on display over 2000+ product lines, designs, styles, raw material base and concepts to the overseas buyers from 110 countries informed Shri Prahladka.

Further elaborating Shri Prahladka said that IHGF Delhi Fair Autumn will have the most extensive range of handcrafted products like Home textiles, Furnishings & Made ups, Carpets & Rugs, Floor Coverings, Houseware, Decoratives, Tableware, Furniture, Garden & Outdoor, Bathroom Accessories, Spa and Wellness, Lamps & Lighting, Christmas & Festive Décor, Handmade paper items, Fashion Jewellery, Accessories, bags, clutches, purses and garments and Facts & Figures etc. It will mainly focus on eco-friendly products made out of a variety of base material like wood, metal, glass, cane and bamboo, textiles made of natural fibers, wool, silk, jute, coir, stone, leather, terracotta, lac, dry flowers etc. The products on display are handcrafted catering to all segments of customers be it low, middle to top end customers. The range of products is large, varied and distinct.

Shri Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director – EPCH said that IHGF-Delhi Fair has not only enabled Indian exporters in large numbers to participate in the show and secure orders but has also acquired the reputation of ultimate sourcing destination amongst the overseas buying community and ‘most effective marketing medium’ amongst Indian exporting community. IHGF also plays a vital role in increasing the foreign exchange earnings.

The overseas buyers from over 110 countries including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ghana, Hong Kong, Hungry, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Israel, Japan, Jamaica, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, SRI Lanka, Sweden,, Switzerland, Taiwan, The Netherlands, Tanzania, Tunisia, Thailand, Lebanon, Turkey, Uganda, USA, UAE, UK, Vietnam, Yemen and Zimbabwe and many more will be visiting the show. The buyers visiting the show includes wholesalers, distributors, chain stores, departmental stores, retailers, mail order companies, brand owners, buying houses and designers & forecasters.

This year buyers from countries like Benin, Fiji, Latvia, Rwanda and Dominican Republic will also join this fair to source their requirement.

Major departmental stores who have already confirmed their visit to the show include Herold, Deetjen & Meyer, Hofmeister Bietigheim GMBH & Co, Otto, Lambert GMBH, Germany, Kapimex BV, Only Natural, Riviera Maison, Lifestyle Home Collection, The Netherlands, MRP Home, South Africa, Lifestyle, United Arab Emirates, D. Sky Home, Oscar & Clothilde, The Moshi, Sweden, Ross, Midwest CBK LLC, TJX, Dillards, Anthropologie, Napa Home and Garden, C&F Enterprises, Kalalou, HEB, Accent Décor, Two’s Company Inc. USA, Fox Home, Israel, Graham & Green, The Libra Company, London Ornaments, UK, Ateliers C&D Davoy, Vyrillus, Caravane, France, ILOT Interiors SL, Zara Home, Spain, Torre & Tagus Designs, Neuvo Living, Canada, Tomo Corporation, Francfranc Corpn, Japan, Redtag, UAE, Perfect Home, Norway and many more.

The show will also have visitors from major Indian Retail/online brands like Pepperfry, Fabindia, Flipkart, WestSide, Shoppers Stop, Pipal, Bombay Dyeing, Oberoi hotels & Resorts, Paytm, William E Cornor & Associates, TQM Global Buying, HCL and many more.

Mr. Kumar, Further informed that the five days show will also witness knowledge seminars on varied topics such as Enabling B2C exports through online channels, Vriksh –Timber Legality Assessment and Verification Scheme, Learn forecasting techniques to safeguard against currency fluctuations, Goods & Services Tax, filing returns and claiming refunds, Targeting overseas buyers, Trends & forecast, Team building in an organisation and necessary compliance for Handicrafts sector.

Theme pavilion of North Eastern Handicrafts and mega cluster Jodhpur will be one of the attractions for the visiting overseas buying community. Fashion shows and ramp walks by models adorning fashion jewellery, accessories and utility items sourced from exhibitors of the show will add glamour to this congregation of exhibitors and overseas buyers.

Vriksh Timber Legality Assessment & Certification Scheme which was launched by EPCH in 2013 has over 500 companies under its ambit and 269 vriksh compliant companies are participating in this edition of the show showing our commitment and resolve towards offering legally procured wooden handicrafts items to the buying community said Mr. Kumar, ED – EPCH.

For the first time in the memory of Late Shri P.N. Suri, founder Chairman of the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, P.N. Suri memorial awards for best design and display in metal and wood category will also be distributed during the show alongwith other Ajai Shankar Memorial awards. 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 said Shri Rakesh Kumar, ED – EPCH.