The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) is the nodal agency for the promotion and development of handicrafts exports from India. The council with the support of Embassy of India in Santiago, Chile and Santiago Chambers of Commerce organised a Buyer-Seller Meet. This B2B event was organised from 11 to 12th March, 2019 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santiago, Chile informed Rakesh Kumar, Director General – EPCH.
The BSM was inaugurated by Awadh Kumar, Commercial Attache, Embassy of India, Chile. Rodrigo Mujica R Director International Affairs, Santiago Chamber of Commerce and Magdalena Diaz Le Fort, Executive Director, Chile India Chamber of Commerce also graced the occasion.
During the day Anita Nayar, Hon’ble Ambassador of Embassy of India, Chile also visited the BSM and interacted with the Indian exhibitors. The Buyer Seller Meet in the Latin American Region has been a successful annual event since the last five years and this is the 7th such event being organised by the Council in Chile since the year 2010. 32 Indian exporters participated in this BSM and displayed a wide range of handicrafts, decorative, houseware home furnishing, garments & made ups, shawls, scarves, fashion jewellery & accessories, jute bags, bags, fashion garments, and incense, aromatics and Christmas décor from the State of Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Maharashtra, Haryana, Kolkata and Madhya Pradesh. The Buyer Seller Meet was a B2B exhibition for order booking for future supplies.
With premium products to suit contemporary demands, manufacturers in India focus on freshness and new thinking. India’s exports to the Latin American Region have seen a healthy and consistent growth with our manufacturers & exporters growing knowledge of market trends and consumer preferences.
Rakesh Kumar, Director General – EPCH elaborated that the objective of organising this Buyer-Seller Meet is match making of the Indian companies with the Chilean companies interested in sourcing handicrafts, gifts, lifestyle products for the Chilean market thereby creating a ‘Brand Image” of the Indian handicrafts amongst Latin American buyers. On first day of the event, meetings with some of the big brands in Chile like Walmart, Lider DIB Carpets & Home Republic, Cencosud Retails SA, Lounge, Paris have already taken place with Indian exhibitors. Meetings with other major companies of Chile took place on 2nd day of the event which included Home Republic, Commercial Windsor Ltda, Imprtadora Triveni SA, Terapias Masajes Sacamostress and La Casa Magica.
The main exports markets for the Indian handicrafts are the US followed by the EU, Middle East and Far East. However, Latin America and Caribbean countries (LAC) are emerging as a new destination for exports of handicrafts. Indian craftsmanship, ethnic designs and colours are unique and have no comparison with products from other countries. The range produced in India is very large and wide and the quality and price structure varies from high-end market, middle end market to low-end market.
The Director General – EPCH further elaborated that the LAC and Caribbean countries are the potential markets for the Indian handicrafts. The exports of handicrafts from India are growing at a healthy rate and stood at $3573.49 mn in 2017- 2018. The average exports growth in exports of handicrafts from India has remained between 15 – 16 per cent per annum. The export of India handicrafts to Chile was of $11.36 mn during the 2016-17 which increased to $12.05 mn during 2017-18. It is expected that this Buyer-Seller Meet in association with Indian Embassy and Santiago Chamber of Commerce will lead to a growth in Indo-Chilean Trade relations.
