Rakesh Kumar, Director General – EPCH informed that the dates of Spring edition of IHGF-Delhi Fair have been shifted from February to 15 – 19 April, 2020.Kumar stated the reasons behind shifting of dates of Spring edition of IHGF-Delhi Fair by elaborating that after conclusion of IHGF-Delhi Fair Spring 2019, the Council carried out a survey amongst exhibitors and buyers so as to take their feedback to consider shifting the show dates from February to April i.e. before China and Hong Kong fairs and found that 90 per cent of the participants of this edition of the show expressed that dates should be shifted to April.
Another reason for shifting dates cited was to give proper time to manufactures to prepare and develop new products lines to encourage buyers to visit the show in April enroute their way to the shows in China and Hong Kong. Kumar informed that EPCH availed the opportunity of availability of buyers from more than 50 countries who are in India to source their requirement from Home Expo India being held at India Expo Centre & Mart and exhibitors as well to share and popularize the new dates of IHGF-Delhi Fair Spring to be held from 15 – 19 April, 2020.
As EPCH is an apex organisation of handicrafts exporters, the feedback received from the members was to be welcomed so accordingly Members of the Committee of Administration have took the decision to shift the dates of Spring edition of IHGF-Delhi Fair from February to 15 – 19 April, 2020.
Kumar elaborated that EPCH had been organising Spring edition of Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair since 1994. The first edition of this fair was held in January, 1994 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi with 313 exhibitors in an area of 5500 sq. mtrs. At Pragati Maidan with visit of 515 buyers. From 2006 onwards the fair is being held at state-of-the art exhibition centre i.e. India Expo Cenre & Mart, Greater Noida. The Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair was revamped and renamed as IHGF-Delhi fair with bigger, bolder and for five days during in 2014.
Spring edition of the show have registered fast growth in terms of exhibitors, display area, visit of buyers and generation of business enquiries. The fair which was started with display area of 5,500 sq. mtr. in 1994 has acquired 1,90,000 sq. mtr in February, 2019 with 3189 exhibitors with visit of 6737 buyers and business enquiries of RS. 2,900 cr.
Kumar hoped that with new dates of the show from 15 – 19 April, 2020 more buyers would be able to visit the show before going to attend fairs in China and Hong thereby enhancing business enquiries and earning of foreign exchange for the country.
