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A Report - Interactive Seminar with Overseas Buyers

One Day Interactive Seminar with Overseas Buyers of Handmade Carpets for Branding the Image of Handmade Carpets for Export Promotion, during India Carpet  Expo on   14th March 2014 held at New Delhi

Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) has organized one day Interactive Seminar with Overseas Buyers of Handmade Carpets for branding the image of carpets in India for Export Promotion on 14th March 2014 at Sheraton ITC New Delhi Hotel. There were more than 158 participants attended the Seminar including 88 Overseas Carpet Buyers (copy enclosed). Chairman & Vice-Chairmen & COA Members of CEPC, Senior Govt. Officers, prominent exporters of Handmade Carpet Sector were also attended the Seminar.

Also present were members from the Handmade Carpet Export Sector along with Overseas Buyers of well known products, brands, Buying Representatives, Exhibitors, Print, Electronic Media, Press & other invited dignitaries.

{Venue for holding the interactive session held on 14th March 2014 at Sheraton ITC New Delhi Hotel on Branding the Image of Indian Handmade Carpets and other floor coverings}

{Shri S. S, Gupta, Development Commissioner O/o DC (Handicrafts), Mr. Siddh Nath Singh, Chairman, CEPC, Shri V. R. Sharma, Past Chairman, CEPC and  Shri Kuldeep Raj Wattal, Past Chairman and Member of COA, CEPC}

In his welcome speech, Mr. Siddh Nath Singh, Chairman, CEPC welcomed the participants and overseas buyers and briefed about the history of India Carpet Expo which was started in the year 2000 with the meager 61 participants to more than 300 as well as participation of overseas buyers from only 16 to more than 348 from around 48 countries. He requested the prominent members from the Industry as well as overseas buyers to place their suggestions for promotion of exports of handmade carpets and other floor coverings from India. He in this regard mentioned that India is having capability to cater the requirement of any kind of products according to choice & specifications of the end user customers. He also mentioned about the activities of this Council for promotion of exports of handmade carpets and other floor coverings.

{Mr. Siddh Nath Singh, Chairman, CEPC delivering his welcome address - Interactive Session on Branding the Image of Indian Handmade Carpets}

Mr. Siddh Nath Singh, Chairman, CEPC further informed that in order to further increase exports and to tap the markets for Handmade Woolen Carpets, Rugs, Druggets and other Floor Coverings, we suggests that Government may initiate efforts with all the Textiles EPCs to organize fairs / exhibitions for “Brand India Image” of Indian Textiles, along with handmade carpets, rugs and other floor coverings and allocate the required funds for exhibiting their goods for promotion / sale during the exhibition. Goods for exhibitions / fair should be allowed to reach / exit the exhibition venue before & after the exhibitions without any duty. Chairman, CEPC informed the distinguished guests that increase in export of Branded products will definitely going to provide fruitful employment at the doorsteps of artisans, entrepreneurs, young youths, hospitality industries i.e. Hotel, logistic, tour and travel industry in the rural areas of India, which he believes strongly going to help “branding the Indian Handmade carpets and other floor coverings”.

{Mr. V. R. Sharma, Ex-Chairman, CEPC, sharing his experience in branding of handmade carpets in overseas markets}

Mr. V. R. Sharma, Ex-Chairman, CEPC suggested that there is a need for diversification of marketing strategies keeping in view the present recessionary trends in US and European Markets. He also mentioned that India is having a vast potential for promotion of exports for which active support of overseas buyers is essential. He accordingly, requested the overseas carpet buyers to promote the trade jointly with the Indian exporters. Mr. Sharma informed the gathering of overseas buyers that India Carpet Expo is the world acclaimed established exhibition of “branded” Handmade Carpets and other floor coverings in South East Asia and confirmed that during ongoing 27th Edition of ICE, some 255 Exhibitors from different parts of the country, i.e. U.P., Rajasthan, J&K, Haryana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi etc. participated in this Export Oriented Expo and displayed their latest designs of Handmade Carpets and other Floor Coverings and done tremendous business with 348 visited overseas buyers from some 50 countries including USA, Germany, France, Italy, U.K., Turkey, Brazil, China, Canada, Denmark, Japan, Korea etc.

Mr. Sandeep P Kataria IInd Vice Chairman, CEPC  was of the view that India can promote the exports of handmade carpets and industry needs to look after the welfare of the weavers for which we have to pay more wages to the weavers engages in the industry to produce good and elegant quality of handmade carpets.

Shri S.S. Gupta, Development Commissioner, Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India was of opinion that though he is new in the field but as per his knowledge, Council with the help of his office and other Central Ministries and overseas Indian Missions can able to increase the exports of handmade carpets and other floor coverings in association with both overseas buyers and Indian exporters. {Shri S.S. Gupta, IAS, Development Commissioner, O/o. DC (Handicrafts), M/o. Textiles, Govt. of India briefing the Govt Policies meant for Branding the Image of Handmade Carpets to the distinguished gatherings}

Indian Handmade Carpet Sector is very important segment of our economy as it is almost 100% Export Oriented, earning valuable foreign exchange to the tune of USD 1175.24 million during 2013-14. It also provides employment to over 2 million rural artisans including women folklore in their own home. Indian Handmade Carpet Sector has maintained its position at No. 1 in the world market.

It is an ideal platform for visiting International carpet buyers and Buying Houses from India to meet and establish long term business relations. CEPC provides platforms to the exhibitors where they can show are their creations under one roof.

The encouraging participation of exhibitors and overwhelming response of visiting overseas buyers in the fair, from all over the world has established the fact that ICE is one of the most successful events organized in the Asian continent. The benefit of course will go first to the participating exhibitors as well as to the visiting overseas buys and also as a whole to the cottage based Handmade Carpet Sector.

Thereafter some of the prominent overseas carpet buyers placed their views before the august gathering on organization of India Carpet Expo 12 - 15, March 2014 and promotion of exports of Indian handmade carpets: - {Ms Nataliya Fotchenko of M/ PE “Techno Construction” sharing her experience with the audience in the Interactive session}

Ms. Nataliya Fotchenko of M/s PE “Techno Construction” of Ukraine in her maiden visit to India was very much impressed on the arrangements made by the Carpet Export Promotion Council and she was of the opinion that Indian Carpets will certainly increase their presence all over the world, especially in her Europe, USA, Germany and other countries who has diversified their production from handmade to machine made. She suggested that India should aggressively push the Indian carpets in the markets to capture their share and able to register their presence felt in these markets. She also wanted to come back again in India for their future procurement of handmade carpets and other floor coverings with the help of CEPC.

{A buyer from USA lauding the efforts of CEPC in organizing ICE in highly professional & competitive manner since last 20 years twice a year, comparing the Expo at par with specialized International Exhibition like DOMOTEX}

A well known buyer form USA informed the gathering that he is visiting India Carpet Expo since the year 2000 and is an eye witness of manifold progress of India Carpet Expo including the encouraging arrangements made by the Carpet Export Promotion Council for which he wanted he wanted to place on record before the august gathering his appreciation of the Council for making the arrangement and organizing the Expo in highly professional manner. He therefore, was of the opinion that if the management and the Officers of the Council are organizing the fair in this highly professional manner, which would be going at par with other specialized International Exhibitions including DOMOTEX.

Mr. Seyed Majid Mir Mohammadi of M/s Majid Co. Pty. Ltd., Australia appreciated the entire arrangements made by CEPC, specially the gigantic Exhibition Structure which look like Mughal Type large tenting and facility provided in the huge open air ground and felt happy to address the gatherings of his fellow country business men and enthusiastic to see the decision making authorities of well known brands of Europe and USA. He suggested that Indian Exporters should commit to their agreement for time schedule which will in other way promote the exports of Indian handmade carpets including branding the image of Indian carpets. He further suggested that middle level manufacturers of handmade carpets from other regions i.e. Gujarat, M.P., Kullu, Dharamsala should also be called for in the Expo with best of their exhibits. {Mr. Seyed Majid Mir Mohammadi of M/s Majid Co. Pty. Ltd of Australia thanking the Organizers for inviting him to do serious business with Indian Exporters, manufacturers of Handmade Carpets and up lauding the efforts of CEPC, with the audience}

{A well known buyer from USA appreciated the comments of distinguished speakers on branding the image of Indian Handmade carpets during the Interactive Session}

A well known buyer from USA flatten to see the gigantic flawless arrangements and best of the world best branded and professionally specialized overseas buyers from all walks of life gathered, enjoining and sharing their memories at one place under one roof and under one umbrella. He further wanted to tell the whole world that he would like to see and attend all such India Carpet Expos professionally arranged and managed by the present Management and official team of CEPC in future also, with all his counterparts spread over in the world carpet belts. He urged all the distinguished personalities present in the Seminar to come forward with more professional overseas handmade carpet buyers from all over the world for their procurement of handmade carpets and other floor coverings under one roof of CEPC, to make good business under one roof.

Mr. Ahmet Koker of M/s Hadeks Hali A.S. of Turkey, appreciated the comments of distinguished personalities of different countries before the august gathering, gathered at one place in convenient atmosphere and facilities, over glittering and glazed ceremony, just like celluloid screen. He was very much impressed with the progress of Indian handmade carpets and he would like to spread the message of good business atmosphere in India Carpet Expo and assured for increasing of imports of Indian handmade carpets into Brazil, as well as other Latin American Countries. Mr. Ahmet shared his views about the fairness in the business with Indian exporters in comparison with other country i.e. China, Pakistan, Russia where he found that duty structure is too high and complicated to deal with them and prefer to visit India and to do business with them. One more reason for that he prefer to visit India that most of the carpet selling countries in the world are moving or transforming towards machine made carpets. { Mr. Ahmet Koker of M/s Hadeks Hali A.S., Turkey sharing his views and thanking the organizers for inviting him to witness the glittering ceremony of ICE}

Mr. Sandeep Kataria, 2nd Vice-Chairman, CEPC conveyed vote of thanks to the august gathering with the hope that the exports of Handmade Carpets and other floor coverings will increase in the coming years and cross the One Billion Mark. {Mr. Sandeep Kataria, 2nd Vice-Chairman, CEPC conveying Vote of Thanks}

CONCLUSION:

	India is having capability to cater the requirement of any kind of products according to choice & specifications of the end user customers;

	India is having a vast potential for promotion of exports for which active support of overseas buyers is essential;

	Industry needs to look after the welfare of the weavers for which we have to pay more wages to the weavers engages in the industry to produce good and elegant quality of handmade carpets;

	Council with the help of Govt and overseas Indian Missions can able to increase the exports of handmade carpets and other floor coverings in association with both overseas buyers and Indian exporters;

	Indian Carpets will certainly increase their presence all over the world, especially in China who has diversified their production from handmade to machine made;

	India should aggressively push the Indian carpets in Chinese markets to capture their share and able to make a place in this market;

	Council is organizing the fair in this highly professional manner, which would be going at par with other specialized International Exhibitions around the world including DOMOTEX;

	Indian Exporters should commit to their agreement for time schedule which will in other way promote the exports of Indian handmade carpets;

	Professional overseas handmade carpet buyers from all over the world to come forward for their procurement of handmade carpets and other floor coverings under one roof of CEPC, to make good business under one roof;

	Having potential for increasing of imports of Indian handmade carpets into Brazil, as well as other Latin American Countries.

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