India Carpet Expo begins, 162 exhibitors to showcase their products

ZT NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: The 1^st Virtual Edition of 40^th India Carpet Expo an exclusive trade fair for handmade carpets and other floor-coverings, organized by Carpet Export Promotion Council was inaugurated today by Zubin Irani, Union Minister of Textiles and Women & Child Development through Video Conferencing in the august presence of Shantmanu, IAS, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).

Smiriti Zubin Irani in her address appreciated the efforts of the Carpet Export Promotion Council in organizing 1^st Virtual Edition of India Carpet Expo in the pandemic of COVID-19 and congratulated Siddh Nath Singh ji and Committee Members for their efforts and mentioned that “Koshis Karna Walo ki Kabhi Har Nahi Hoti” and industry is following the vision of Prime Minister “Sab ka Sath Sabka Vikas”. Hon’ble Minister assure full support from her Ministry to the Council for the growth of the industry.

This Virtual Edition is the 1^st  initiative to bridge the gap between Indian products and demand of Handmade Carpets and floor coverings across the globe in post pandemic era.

The 5 day Expo will remain open for business till 25^th August, 2020. The show will run on the website and will be accessed at web browser and mobile application including IOS and android using innovative interactive technology creating user friendly 3D immersive virtual experience/environment.

Although the Expo will be live for 24 hours for the Exhibitors and Buyers but to facilitate the Exhibitors and Overseas buyers video conferencing meetings the timings will be from 12.15 p.m. to 12.00 Midnight.

The Expo is organized under the aegis of Govt. of India with an aim to promote the Cultural Heritage and weaving skills of Indian hand-made Carpets and other floor coverings amongst the overseas carpet buyers.

Siddh Nath Singh, Chairman, CEPC in his address mentioned that in the COVID-19 Scenario travelling is not possible both for our Exporters and Overseas Buyers and hence this Virtual Edition of India Carpet Expo is an ideal platform for International Carpet Buyers, Buying houses, buying Agents, Architects and Indian Carpet Manufacturers & Exporters to meet virtually and establish long term business relationship.

This exhibition is a crucial step towards taking Indian exports of Handmade carpet to much greater and newer heights. Mr Singh further added that there are tremendous business opportunities for participating manufacturers and exporters as various prominent buyers of Handmade Carpets from all over the world will be attending the show and orders worth over thousand crores are expected to be executed in near future.

India Carpet Expo is one of the largest Handmade Carpet Fairs in Asia with a unique platform for the buyers to source the best handmade carpets, Rugs and other floor coverings under one roof. 162 Exhibitors are displaying their products in the Exhibition and over 400 Overseas Buyers have already registered from 58 Countries and provided with login-password for their participation.

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 over 20 lakhs weavers and artisans employed in this highly labour intensive rural based MSME cottage industry.

Sanjay Kumar, Executive Director is happy and expressed hope that the ultimate benefit will go to the weavers and their families. We are looking forward for grand success of the event. Sanjay Kumar further mentioned that we have already planned and got approval of more similar events.

Siddh Nath Singh, Chairman, CEPC, Umer Hameed, 2nd Vice-Chairman, CEPC, Umesh Kumar Gupta, Abdul Rub, Rajendra Prasad Mishra, Onkar Nath Mishra, Feroze Waziri, Husain Jafar Husaini, Mohd. Wasif Ansari, Shree Ram Maurya, Sanjay Gupta, Bodh Raj Malhotra, Sandeep Kataria, Satish Wattal, Members COA were also present in the inauguration alongwith the Participants and Guests.