Fashion jewellery and handicraft expo to attract overseas buyers.

GREATER NOIDA: Union minister of state for textiles Ajay Tamta opened the 9th edition of Indian Fashion Jewellery and Accessories Show (IFJAS-2016) at the Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida on Thursday. While international buyers from countries such as USA, UK, Canada, Australia France, Germany, Italy, Japan etc participating in the exhibition, 250 manufacturers and exhibitors from across India are also displaying their goods at the event to attract overseas buyers.

The three day event from July 21 - 23 is organized by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) and seen as a major calendar event in promoting Gautam Budh Nagar as an industrial hub. The exhibition that mainly focuses on fashion products like clothes, jewellery and accessories will also showcase the widest range of materials, products and designs in five categories comprising fashion jewellery, semi precious jewellery, fashion accessories, hand bags and fancy, embroidered shoes, imitation jewellery and shawls.

Speaking on the occasion Tamta said that Indian exporters have shown good performance in increasing the exports of fashion jewellery and accessories, "yet they need to do more in maintaining quality, price and delivery of their products to face the competition from other countries." The aim of the exhibition, according to Dinesh Kumar, chairman EPCH is to provide a global platform for the Fashion Jewellery and Accessories sector of India so as to make a dent into the 16.3 billion-dollar world market and increase India's share in this segment which is negligible at present.

Describing it an important part of India's export basket, Rakesh Kumar, executive director EPCH, stated that "India's exports of fashion jewellery and accessories in the year 2015-16 was to the tune of Rs. 2755 crores, but still its share in the world market is very less and holding IFJAS is part of Council's drive to promote and expand horizons of key verticals of the handicrafts sector which has tremendous potential to expand further," said Kumar.

According to Rakesh Kumar ED, EPCH one of the highlights of IFJAS 2016 is setting up a theme based 'Trend Pick' under which new product range developed by participants of IFJAS for Autumn-Winter 2016 and Spring Summer 2017 will be on display. "This will also provide trend mood boards for Spring Summer 2017 facilitating exporters and buyers to understand general focus for fashion accessories and prints," said Kumar. Another highlight of the event is setting up of Young Designers Forum for providing business opportunities to upcoming designers for fashion jewellery sector.

Apart from this, a special Focus Pavilion for North Eastern, Eastern and Western regions of India were on display with entrepreneurs from these regions displaying their products. With top importing nations for jewellery in the world being USA, Germany, UK, France, Japan, Switzerland, Netherlands, Canada, Belgium, Hong Kong, Spain, Australia, Italy and Latin American, Indian manufacturers hope to expand their horizons with this exhibition.

According to Kumar, exports of fashion jewellery and accessories from India went up from Rs. 2502 crore in 2014-15 to Rs. 2755 crores (US million $ 421) in 2015-16 registering a growth of 10.10%. While applauding the employment generating efforts for artisans and craftpersons in villages and livelihood to their families, Tamta suggested that new crafts be introduced in order to generate sustained employment opportunities.

He further stressed on the development of crafts of Himalayan region such as promoting the North East. In order to provide insight into latest trends, forecast and online opportunities, seminars on trends for Spring Summer 2017 will also be held on July 22.

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com