33rd India Carpet Expo generates over Rs. 800 to 1000 crore business, enquiries

New Delhi [India], Mar 30 (ANI): Carpet Export Promotion Council organized the 33rd Edition of India Carpet Expo from 27th to 30th March 2017 at Hall nos. 11, 12 and 12A Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, with an aim to promote the Cultural Heritage and showcase the weaving skills of Indian hand-knotted carpet artisans amongst the overseas hand-knotted carpet buyers. India Carpet Expo was inaugurated on 27th March 2017 by Textile Minister Smriti Irani in the august presence of Ajay Tamta, Minister of State for Textiles and Virender Singh, Member of Parliament, Bhadohi. Dignitaries like Rashmi Verma, IAS, Secretary (Textiles), J.K Dadoo Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Puneet Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textile, Smt. Babni Lal, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Textile, Aditi Das Raut, Trade Advisor, Ministry of Textile and Ranjan Kumar, Commissioner, Vindhyachal Mandal, Mirzapur marked their presence in the Expo. Ajay Tamta, Minister of State for Textiles said, "Handmade Carpet Industry holds No. 1 Status in terms of value and quantity in export of handmade carpet. We are very glad that CEPC organizes this Expo twice every year to promote Indian weavers worldwide. Every year Expo generates huge amount of business. We assure our support to the carpet industry for their efforts for the betterment of small Manufacturers and artisans" The Chairman of CEPC Mahavir Pratap Sharma, said "over 4000 enquiries and almost Rs. 800 to 1000 crore business is expected from the four day Expo which shall be executed in the coming months. This year we are expecting Growth rate of about eight to nine percent in terms of dollar. This expo will lead to opening up of new market opportunity for the industry and shall help small and Medium Indian carpet exporters in promoting their products to overseas countries. Eventually, this ongoing process, on a broader scale, is instrumental in projecting" Make in India Brand" in overseas markets. Government has set up a target of almost Rs.11, 000 crore (US $ 1561 million) carpets and floor covering export for the fiscal year 2016- 2017, which he said shall be achieved. He further said Indian carpet expo is an ideal platform for International Carpet Buyers, Buying houses, buying Agents, Architects and Indian Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters to meet and establish long term business relationship. For the first time 60 countries participated in the expo, where buyers form countries like Bulgaria, Israel, Malaysia, Mauritius, Taiwan, Zimbabwe, Vietnam, Serbia, Hungary attended for the first time alongside countries like Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Chile, Germany, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, U.K., USA, Japan etc." The Carpet Export Promotion Council showcased the products of more than 305 reputed small, medium and large manufacturer exporters from all over country viz U.P., Rajasthan, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh etc. A record number of 397 overseas carpet buyers visited the expo to generate business for this rural based cottage sector. It is the endeavor of the Council to provide exclusive business environment to the both carpet importers as well as manufacturer-exporters, which ultimately will benefit about two million weavers and artisans employed in this highly labour intensive rural based MSME cottage industry. (ANI)