CEPC expects business of a few thousand crore rupees at India Carpet Expo

Aamir H Kaki

Mahavir Pratap Sharma, Chairman, Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC), said on Monday that they are expecting a business of a few thousand crore rupees at the 33rd edition of India Carpet Expo (ICE).

“We are hoping to generate a lot of business from this edition of ICE. This is one of our bi-annual events and I personally feel that New Delhi is easy for buyers to come. The previous edition was held in Varanasi last year. We have a great list of exhibitors and are expecting business generated would be in a few thousand crores,” he said.

“There are more than 300 exhibitors exhibiting their products at the ICE from across the country,” Sharma told The Dollar Business when speaking on the sidelines of the India Carpet Expo (ICE).

Sounding optimistic about the number of countries participating and the prospects of handmade carpets business increasing at the expo, Sharma said, “We are expecting participation from over 400 buyers from 60 odd countries. This time, we are hoping new countries to join, especially those that are not importing many handmade carpets from India. Countries like China, which is also the focus country for us, has now started importing handmade carpets from India. So I think, there is a good mix this time.”

“We are witnessing a good growth at ICE every year. The exhibitors are increasing in every edition of the Expo. We are always short of space and funds to give subsidies to the exporters,” he said.

The 33rd edition of ICE is being held from March 27-30, 2017, organised by CEPC, under the aegis of the Government of India, with the aim to promoting the cultural heritage and weaving skills of Indian handmade carpets and other floor coverings amongst the visiting overseas carpet buyers.

The event was inaugurated by Textile Minister Smriti Zubin Irani in the presence of Ajay Tamta, Minister of State for Textiles and Virender Singh, Member of Parliament, Bhadohi.