Tight German Visa Regulations May Pose Problem For

Bhadohi, India, Dec 24--The participation of Indian carpet exporters at the 'Domotex Fair' in Germany next month is doubtful due to visa restrictions imposed by that country, according to the Hindu News Service. Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) spokesman Umesh Kumar Gupta said here that following strict visa conditions imposed by Germany recently, the proposed visit of hundreds of carpet exporters was now doubtful. The fair is to begin on January 17, 2004. "A visa seeker is supposed to give an interview also, which was never the case earlier," he said. He said yesterday several exporters had already sent their samples and even finished carpets to Germany for the trade fair. However, if they could not get visa it would mean monetary loss to them. Gupta said the council would take up the matter with the ministry of External Affairs at New Delhi during the CEPC meet on December 27.