You are here: Home > Delhi > Showcase Noida

Fair and lovely:  A view of the 26th Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair at Greater Noida

Greater Noida is buzzing with action as the four-day Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair, which brings over 1,300 exhibitors to a common platform, got underway on Wednesday.

Executive Director of Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) Rakesh Kumar said, "Many exhibitors have specifically saved their festive and pre-Christmas launches for this major event. As per indications received so far, the fair is likely to receive around 5,000 buyers over a period of four days."

More buyers

"On the first day we have registered about 1,600 buyers. We are expecting the number to increase in the next three days. We have provided a very good platform for all the small and medium enterprises to showcase their products for buyers from across the world," Kumar added.

The fair covers  the entire gamut of housewares, home textiles, utility items, kitchenware, furniture and furnishings, floorings, decoratives, gifts, curios, antique items, costume jewellery, fashion jewellery, animal bone and horn products etc.

Attractions

The main attraction of the event is woodcraft from Jodhpur and Saharanpur, Dokra craft from Madhya Pradesh, Pattachitra painting and filigree work from Orissa, sandalwood figurines and silk from South India and bamboo products from the Northeastern states. All these are available at competitive prices at the fair.
The fair was started in 1994 and has grown manifold ever since. It formally established itself as a one-stop sourcing destination for all kinds of handcrafted products from all over India.

More than 950 product lines will be on display in this edition. There are 900 permanent exhibitors at the venue.

Recession

Vijay Thakur, a manufacturer and exporter of horns and bone items, has been participating in this event for last three years. "This year the business has been low due to the global recession. However, we expect the business to pick up in the coming days," he said.

Atul Poddar, manufacturer of textiles, home furnishings and handicrafts said,  "Generally the action on the first day of the event is a bit slow, however, we expect that in the coming days the sale will pick up."
Another participant, Villayat Hussain Mir from Jammu and Kashmir, dealing in carpets and Pashmina shawls, finds the event  very "promising." On the very first day itself he got six orders.