500-700 overseas buyers to participate in flagship handicraft fair this month

At least 500 overseas buyers from the US, Canada and West Asia are expected to attend the flagship IHGF Delhi Fair later this month, in which 1,500 exhibitors from across the country will showcase their handicrafts.

The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) is holding the 52nd IHGF Delhi Fair from October 28-31 in physical form at the India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, unlike last year when it was held virtually.

“This is an opportunity for us to show our new samples and correct the prices to absorb the high raw material and wage costs,” said Rakesh Kumar, Director General, EPCH. While the biennial event would attract 5,000-6,000 buyers in the pre-pandemic time, Kumar said this time 500-700 overseas buyers have confirmed.


“These are large buyers from the UK, US, Canada, West Asia, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and the Far East. Those coming have a firm purchase agenda,” Kumar said, adding that this time, fewer buyers are coming from Japan and Australia. Furniture, lifestyle and textile furnishing have attracted the highest interest of overseas buyers.

This time the exhibition is being held in eight halls unlike 15 earlier, and international buyers and exhibitors will be issued coloured badges based on their vaccination status.

Blue badges are for international buyers while double vaccinated exhibitors will get green badges and those inoculated with one shot or unvaccinated would get an orange badge. However, they will need a negative RT-PCR test of 48 hours prior or a quick antigen test that would be done on the exhibition site.

Handicrafts exports during the first five months of FY22 grew 84% on-year to $838.4 million.