Union Textiles Minister Santosh Gangwar today inaugurated world's largest handicrafts and gifts fair IHGF.
Gangwar said the government and the exporting community need to work together to promote the handicrafts sector.
He said that exporters should innovate products so that buyers who visit the fair take the impression back with them that they cannot source these kind of products from anywhere else.
"India has a treasure of raw material, craftsmanship and ethnic tradition and systems, we have to reorient to bring innovation and newness," he added.
The fair is being organised by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) and around 2,750 exhibitors are participating to showcase their home, lifestyle and fashion products. The fair will be open till October 18.
The product categories on display include houseware, tableware, kitchenware, hotelware, home furnishing, home textiles, linens and made ups, festive decor, among others.
Handicrafts exports during 2014-15 stood at Rs 18,639 crore, registering a growth of 7.96 per cent in rupee terms and 6.82 per cent in dollar terms as compared to the previous year.
