Are ‘Rug Makers’ ready to turn the corners in ongoing Indian Carpet Expo

Hailed as the largest virtual carpet export fair of Asia, 41st Indian Carpet Expo organised by carpet export promotion council (CEPC) aims to regale the buyers across the globe, It’s a bi annual event focused at democratising the cultural heritage of Indian handmade carpets, floor coverings and promoting Indian weaving skills to overseas carpet buyers, the fair attracts a significant number of patrons from various part of the world, particularly from US and Europe.

Asserting the optimism concerning the fair, Siddh Nath Singh, Chairman of Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) said, “the expectations are high from the virtual expo this year and we will be taking Indian exports of handmade carpet to much greater and newer heights.It is an ideal platform for international carpet buyers, buying houses, buying agents as well as Indian carpet manufacturers and exporters. We are also planning to institute Design Awards during the Expo.”

Apart from over 200 Indian exporters from major carpet belts of Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Agra, Jaipur, Panipat, Jammu & Kashmir which display their exquisite collections, approximately 300 buyers from 60 countries are participating in the event.

Emphasizing the importance of the fair, Shantmanu, Development Commissioner Handicrafts, Ministry of Textile elucidates, “Its a labour intensive sector and we have more than 20 lakh people who are directly or indirectly associated with this sector. There are growers of cotton, wool; weavers and artisans; designers, exporters and traders who are all a part of this trade. We have buyers also from different parts of the world.The advantage of this virtual fair is that we get buyers from the remotest corners, which we otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to connect.”