The Index Fair, held from 4 to 6 June 2024 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE, kicked off with the inauguration of the EPCH India Pavilion by Mr. K. Kalimuthu, Consul Commerce, Consulate General of India, Dubai, in the presence of Mr. R. K. Verma, Executive Director - EPCH, and other member exporters. This fair provided numerous opportunities for Indian exporters to showcase their unparalleled handicraft products to premium buyers from the Middle East region. Mr. Rajesh Rawat, Additional Executive Director – EPCH, stated that various member exporters from different parts of the country displayed their exclusive range of products this year.
Mr. K. Kalimuthu, Consul Commerce, Consulate General of India, Dubai, commended the continuous efforts of the Council in bringing Indian handicrafts to global markets and promoting handicraft exports from the country. The CGI interacted with Indian exhibitors and offered necessary support for business promotion in the UAE.
Mr. Dileep Baid, Chairman EPCH, shared that the Council regularly exhibited at Index Fair, Dubai, UAE, providing insight into the versatility of the UAE market. Index Dubai is the largest trade fair for design-led products for homes and hotels in West Asia & North Africa (WANA). EPCH organized this participation at the Index fair for handicrafts exporters with the support of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India.
Mr. R. K. Verma, Executive Director – EPCH, mentioned that exhibitors from Ahmedabad, Karur, Bangalore, Chennai, Panipat, Saharanpur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Moradabad, and Delhi NCR exhibited in the EPCH India pavilion, showcasing their exclusive home décor, lifestyle, home textiles, furniture, and accessories to premium buyers at the fair.
The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts is a nodal organization for promoting exports of handicrafts from the country and creating a brand image of the skilled artisans and craftspeople engaged in producing home, lifestyle, textiles, furniture, fashion jewelry, and accessories products in different craft clusters of the country. The handicrafts exports during the year 2023-24 were Rs. 32,759 Crores and US $ 3,956 Million. The exports of handicrafts to the UAE during the year 2023-24 were Rs. 2049 Crores (US $ 247 Million), registering a growth of 15.91% in rupee terms and 12.60% in dollar terms over the previous year, as informed by Mr. R. K. Verma, Executive Director – EPCH.
