Noida: From folk painting to silver filigree, kundan meenakari to home decor, Christmas gifts to innovative jewellery, the 58th edition of the Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF), which began at India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida on Wednesday, will feature over 2,000 exhibitors.
Over 70 countries are participating in the five-day fair organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), which will continue until Oct 20.
Highlights of the IHGF, popularly known as the Delhi-Autumn Fair, include Sujani craft, applique craft, and Madhubani paintings from Bihar; Odisha’s silver filigree jewelry; Rajasthan’s kundan meenakari; and innovative jewellery from award-winning artisans.
Other attractions at the fair include a thematic display on sustainable crafts promoting India’s sustainable design practices globally, a rich variety of traditional and contemporary handicrafts from Bihar, as well as fashion shows and knowledge seminars addressing various issues such as global policies, design trends and developments, IP and trademark rights, DGFT procedures, sustainability, and other topics related to the handicrafts sector.
“While Indian handicraft exports reached Rs 32,758 crore (USD 3,956 million) last year, experts predict a 10% increase in demand globally for 2024-25. As one of the world’s largest sourcing events, the IHGF fair is significant,” said Dileep Baid, chairman of EPCH.
The director general of EPCH, Dr Rakesh Kumar Verma, said that the IHGF Delhi Fair-Autumn 2024 promises a rich variety of traditional and contemporary handicrafts. “Overseas buyers from 70 to 80 countries, including the UK, USA, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, and more, have pre-registered for the fair,” Verma added.
