INVC NEWS
New Delhi,
Ajay Tamta, Union Minister of State for Textiles, Government of India declared open the 9th edition of the Indian Fashion Jewellery and Accessories Show (IFJAS 2016) on 21st July, 2016 at the state-of-art India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida, at a colourful ceremony today.
Inaugurating the show, Shri Tamta said that handicrafts in India come predominantly from the cottage, micro, small and medium sector. He said that the handicrafts sector plays a very important social and economic role in providing employment on full time or part time basis at the village, Kasba and town levels, to women and economically weaker sections of society.
The Minister further said that Indian exporters have shown good performance in increasing the exports of fashion jewellery and accessories; however, they need to do more hard work in maintaining quality, price and delivery of their products to face the competition from other competitive countries as well as to promote exports from the country. He applauded the efforts of the exporting community for providing employment to the artisans and crafts-persons in villages and providing livelihood to their families. He suggested that new crafts other than those being practised in the craft clusters in villages should be introduced in order to generate sustained employment opportunities. He spoke of the need for development of crafts of Himalayan region as well. The Minister appreciated the good work being done by EPCH for promoting crafts of North East Region, by bringing products made by artisans and craftspersons of NER on this platform where large members of the international buying community from different countries are visiting to source their requirements. Minister assured the exporting community all possible help from Ministry of Textiles in promoting and supporting their crafts.
The fair is being organised from 21 – 23 July, 2016, by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, informed Shri Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director – EPCH. Shri Dinesh Kumar, Chairman – EPCH; Shri Rakesh Kumar, ED – EPCH; Shri Sobinder Kohli, President of the Fair; Ms. Neetu Singh, Vice President, Fair; Shri O.P. Prahaladka, Vice Chairman – EPCH; and members of committee of administration were present on the occasion.
