Virtual Carpet Expo Concludes

Virtual Carpet Expo Concludes

Varanasi: The first Virtual Edition of the 40^th India Carpet Expo, an exclusive trade fair for Handmade carpets and other floor-coverings, Organized by Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) concluded on Tuesday.

The five-day expo was inaugurated on August 21, 2020  by Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister of Textiles and Women & Child Development through Video Conferencing in the presence of Shantmanu, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).

According to Sanjay Kumar, Executive Director, the expo received overwhelming response from around 364 overseas buyers from 61 countries and 191 buying representatives from across the world. For the first time Council organized “Design Awards – 2020” through video conferencing on Tuesday. It was attended by Siddh Nath Singh, Chairman, CEPC, Umer Hameed, 2^nd Vice-Chairman, CEPC, Umesh Kumar Gupta, Rajender Prashad Mishra, Abdul Rub, Sanjay Gupta, and Shree Ram Maurya.

In his address, the CEPC chsairman said that the basic idea of instituting this “Design Awards – 2020”  was to appreciate and recognize the  hard work of participants especially the younger generation in the industry for their participation in first Virtual Exhibition. He said that it is a start of new era which opens the global business opportunities for the handmade carpet industry with the use of new technology.

Virtual Carpet Expo Concludes

Umesh Kumar Gupta, the senior most member of the committee of administration, recalled the efforts made for the first carpet fair organized in 2000. Today it is undisputed that this Expo has now established as Asia’s biggest handmade carpet show with its ever-growing patronage from buyers all over the world. India Carpet Expo is providing tremendous business opportunities for participating manufacturers and exporters as prominent Overseas Handmade Carpet Buyers from all over the world are attending this Expo.

Sanjay Kumar, Executive Director, said that in spite of all the confusion and adversity, the Council decided to organize Virtual Exhibition. He requested the members to get registered as Authorized User of GI.  Govt. of India is planning to extend extra incentives for authorized users of GI.  Presently, there are seven GIs in Carpet Sector, and proposal for 10 more products has been submitted.

GI expert and president of Human Welfare Association Padma Shri Dr. Rajni Kant informed members about the importance of Handicrafts and Carpet Sector and thrust of Prime Minister to strengthen this sector.  He said that all the benefit of this fair will go to weavers and artisans only.

The Executive Director announced the name of Awardees. The Design Award for Best Hand Knotted Carpets went to Chaudhary Exports, Jaipur (First Prize) and Arora Carpets, Agra (Second Prize). The Design Award for Best Hand Tufted Carpets was bagged by Village Weavers, Mirzapur (1^st) and Vini Décor, Panipat (2^nd). The Design Award for Dhurries went to Gallery, Bhadohi, while Design Award for Best Traditional Carpet went to Noor Carpet Company, and Design Award for Best Aesthetic Stall went to Hazara Arts, Srinagar.