'IHGF wonderful platform for artisans from the North East'

The ongoing Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF), one of world's largest, has emerged as a prominent platform this year for artisans from the North East to showcase their products.
Rakesh Kumar, Executive Director - Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) said that under the North East Region Textiles Promotion Scheme of the Ministry of Textiles,EPCH has projected capacity enhancement, skill development and marketing and increase of employment opportunities of the North Eastern region by providing a platform to the products being manufactured by artisans, craftsmen and entrepreneurs at IHGF Delhi Fair Spring 2017.
The North Eastern region of India is known for abundant natural materials such as cane, bamboo, timber, clay, natural fiber and land of craftsmen whose unique skills have passed down through generations and have gracefully incorporated modern eco-friendly technologies to appeal to the contemporary consumers.

Twenty six participants from NER states like Assam, Arunachal Praqdesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Sikkim as well as the region's welfare organisations like North Eastern Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corpn and Cane and Bamboo Technology Centre, Assam are displaying cane and bamboo-based basketry, lamp shades, gifts items, decorative and utility products as well as furniture, cushion covers, table runners and table accessories, artistic textiles, ethnic apparel, shawls and stoles.
Buyers from different countries have been visiting the theme pavilion of NER set up in the fair which will come to an end on February 20.
ED-EPCH further said that another theme pavilion from Jodhpur Mega cluster has also been set up in which 10 artisans are displaying their skills in leather embroidery, horn,tie and dye crafts, embroidery and applique hand block printing, punja durries, art metalware and woodcraft.

This international participation will definitely boost the morale of the small and upcoming entrepreneurs of this region and motivate others to step up their efforts in product design and innovation, so that they can also get connected to the international buying community," said Kumar.