GREATER NOIDA: The 47th edition of the Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (called IHGF-Delhi Spring Fair 2019 ) concluded on Friday at India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida with Rs 2900 crore of business inquiries (business generated). New buyers from countries like Albania, Togo and Barbados have been added this year.The five-day fair which began from February 18-22, turned out to be the biggest since past 47 editions in the NCR region having 3250 exhibitors from across India, 660 overseas bulk buyers from 110 countries.While industry experts and ministers visited the fair including Ajay Tamta minister of state for textiles (February 21) and PP Chaudhary , Union minister of state for law and justice (February 20), the B2B fair boasts a 13.26 per cent growth in the handicraft sector till January 2019.“It was the biggest fair since past 47 editions where trade inquires generated Rs 2900 crore worth of business,” said Rakesh Kumar director general of Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) which organised the fair.On the concluding day, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Centre for Handicrafts Export Management Studies-EPCH and Buying Agents Association (BAA) for a merchandising management course in retail and exports. “The course will start from 1st week of April 2019 at five places including Greater Noida, Delhi, Moradabad, Jaipur and Jodhpur. It is an initiative of EPCH to bring in young generation and more people to join handicrafts business,” said Kumar.Tamta maintained that large number of small and medium enterprises are involved in manufacturing of exquisite and quality handicraft products in different craft clusters and this fair played an important role in providing a global marketing platform to the exporters to showcase their creativity and craftsmanship. “This fair has also led to earning foreign exchange through exports which was merely Rs 387 crore in 1986-87 and has reached to Rs 23,029.36 crores in 2017-18. During past 10 months of 2018-19 exports of handicrafts have shown a positive growth of 13.26 per cent in rupee terms and is at Rs 21,460.56 crores. I’m expect more positive growth in 2018-19,” said Tamta.PP Chaudhary, Union minister of state for law and justice further promised all government support to the handicraft sector. “We will provide all support to the handicrafts sector and the artisans covered under the ambit of MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act),” said Chaudhary.While prominent overseas buyers came from countries like USA, UK, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, Thailand, Togo, Turkey etc., main attraction of the fair were artisans from Moradabad, Jaipur, Noida, Saharanpur, Panipat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and more.The handicrafts exports during the year 2017-18 were Rs 23,029.36 crores, whereas the exports of handicrafts during last 10 months financial year i.e. April 2018 to January 2019 was Rs 21,460.56 crore registering a growth of 13.26 per cent over the same period last year said Kumar.

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