There is a need to expand the country's exports base to other non-traditional markets, Textiles Secretary Zohra Chatterji said today.
While inaugurating Asia's largest exhibition of home and lifestyle products Home Expo India here she said, "We need to make extra efforts to devote our energies to the markets in Central Asia, West Asia, South East Asia and Latin American regions."
The country needs to expand base to other non-traditional markets which have considerable buying powers and where the standard of living has been improving, she said.
The growth in furniture and accessories exports has been 47.56 per cent, furnishing, floorings & textiles at 27.45 per cent and houseware & decorative at 21.42 per cent, she said.
The exhibition, which is showcasing furnishings, floorings, textiles, houseware and decoratives under one roof, has over 350 firms participating and displaying their products to enable sourcing for several overseas buyers.
Meanwhile, Lekhraj Maheshwari, the Chairman of Exports Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), which is organising the fair, said the Home Expo India is laying special emphasis this year on display of products from Jammu & Kashmir.
Last year, the focus was on tribal belts like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
"We expect that this show will not only bring more export orders but also result in tie ups, joint ventures, business alliances and collaboration between India and foreign companies," he said.
Global buying groups visiting the Home Expo India 2014 include Pier 1 Import (USA), Cost Plus World Market (USA), Gibson Importing Co (Australia), Worldwide Home Furnishing Inc (Canada), Atlas GMBH (Germany), Halenza KG (Germany), Livins Co Ltd (Japan), Globus Ag (Switzerland), Edelman BV (Netherland) and Uttermost Company (USA), EPCH said.
European Union nations like France, Italy, the UK and Netherlands, the US, Canada, the UAE, Japan and Switzerland are major export destination for Indian home furnishing, floorings, home textiles, furniture & accessories, houseware and decoratives items.
