Smriti to launch textile fair at Gr Noida expo mart today

GREATER NOIDA: Union textiles minister Smriti Zubin Irani will inaugurate the 44th edition of Indian Handicrafts and Gifts (IHGF)-Delhi Fair at India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida, on Thursday.

Recognised by Limca Book of World Records as the world's largest congregation of handicraft exhibitors under one roof, the B2B IHGF-Delhi Fair will go on till October 16 and showcase nearly 3,000 exhibitors, 14 product categories, 2000 plus products in a 1,90,000-sqm display area with over 100 participating countries (of buyers, wholesalers and retailers), including the US, the UK, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Korea, India.

Organised by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) the five-day fair is the biggest platform in the NCR for the promotion of handicrafts business. According to OP Prahladka, chairman of EPCH, a quest for seeking something different, unusual and new sees buyers from all over the world visiting the IHGF-Delhi fair each edition.

EPCH executive director Rakesh Kumar said that overseas buyers from across the globe at IHGF will include wholesalers, distributors, chain stores, departmental stores, retailers, mail order companies, brand owners, buying houses and designers and forecasters.