New Delhi, India, October 18--As many as 4,300 buyers from across the globe will throng Asia’s biggest textiles expo this year that focuses on floors and furnishings to source their home textiles requirements.
The Indian Express Online Media reported that the Indian Floors & Furnishing Textiles Expo (IFFTEX) 2004 is on in New Delhi from October 13. Being organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, the expo is the first-ever show being held in India which will focus the floor & furnishings segment of the textiles products in India.
The show is being held concurrently with Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair (Autumn) 2004 at Pragati Maidan. As many as 370 exhibitors are participating in the IFFTEX. According to Rakesh Kumar, executive director, EPCH, furnishings and flooring have been a fast growing category within the handicrafts.
The exports of furnishings and flooring have grown substantially in the last few years from Rs 5627.13 crores in 1999-2000 to Rs 7942.46 crores in the year 2003-2004. The increase has been phenomenal. In the first six months of 2004-2005 (April-September), the exports have touched the figure of Rs 3536.90 crores.
Taking into account the maximum growth in exports of the segment, EPCH has decided to branch out these product category in a specialized distinct entity within the world famous Indian Handicrafts & Gifts Fair. The very first show of its kind has received an enormous response from exhibitors and visitors.
The first ever business event is being held for five days and will be inaugurated by SS Vaghela, Union minister of textiles, Wajahat Habibullah, secretary-textiles, will also grace the occasion.
Navratan Samdria, chairman, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, informed that a large number of overseas importers from the US, European Union, Latin American and other countries have confirmed their visit to source their products. It is also for the first time that over 100 importers are expected from CIS countries, South Africa and Latin American countries.
