Calls for Expanding Handicraft Exports and Exploring New Markets by scaling up operations, seeking new markets and nurturing young talent
Shri Pabitra Margherita, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Govt. of India graces ceremony
Fair welcomes impressive number of buyers from India’s leading markets like USA, and Europe on Day 1
Delhi/NCR – 13th October 2026 – The 62nd IHGF Delhi Fair-Autumn 2026, organized by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), from 13th to 17th October 2025 at the India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida was inaugurated today by Shri. Giriraj Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of Textiles, Govt. of India, in the august presence of Shri Pabitra Margherita, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Govt. of India, at a well-attended inauguration ceremony. Appreciating the fair’s spread-out and composition, he congratulated EPCH on establishing it as a premier international sourcing destination, attracting buyers, designers and industry leaders from across the world. He also commended India Expo Centre & Mart for emerging as a leading international venue for major trade events. “The journey of IHGF Delhi Fair reflects India’s progress, just as the evolution of India Expo Centre highlights the growth and development of Uttar Pradesh,” he said.
Shri. Giriraj Singh expressed satisfaction with the growing participation of buyers and exhibitors and appreciated the significant reduction in fair charges, which has encouraged more registrations. He urged exhibitors to make the best use of the opportunity and expressed confidence that the edition would generate good business opportunities for both buyers and sellers. Highlighting IHGF Delhi Fair’s role in connecting Indian manufacturers and exporters with overseas buyers, Shri Singh appreciated its growth in scale and international reach. He emphasised the need to build a stronger presence in global markets, particularly in emerging & niche destinations, and urged the industry to make concerted efforts to expand exports, calling upon EPCH and the industry to target the one-billion-dollar export mark. The Minister stressed the importance of bringing more first-time exporters into the handicrafts ecosystem and encouraging young entrepreneurs to build on the experience of established exporters. He called for collective efforts to increase the number of first-time exporters to at least 10%, while motivating young talent to explore opportunities in handicrafts, design and international trade.
Emphasising the need to strengthen the sector’s grassroots foundations, Shri Singh spoke about developing existing craft clusters, facilitating new ones and mapping handloom, handicraft and textile capabilities, district-wise. He also stressed on establishing facilitation centres to support enterprises in scaling up operations, reaching new markets and improving product visibility. The Minister also highlighted the potential of the global gifts and décor market, projected to reach US$75–76 billion in 2026 and US$100 billion by 2030. He encouraged manufacturers and exporters saying, “India has tremendous potential in capturing the global gift market by leveraging its rich traditional crafts, artistic skills, and creative design talent,” he said, adding that digital platforms could help promote Indian handicrafts in domestic and international markets.
On the occasion, the Union Minister of Textiles also launched the EUDR Compliance Application, an EPCH initiative to ensure the legal sourcing and traceability of wood and wooden products. The application aims to track the origin, transportation and supply chain of timber, thereby promoting transparency and responsible trade.
Guest of Honour, Shri Pabitra Margherita, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Govt. of India, spoke about the fair’s growth from a single hall to an event welcoming around 3,000 exhibitors. He emphasised that the fair represents not only business and economic growth but also the preservation of India’s traditional craftsmanship and skills passed down through generations. He appreciated the continued efforts of exhibitors in taking Indian handicrafts to global markets.
The IHGF Delhi Fair-Autumn 2026 inauguration ceremony was also graced by D/r. Neeraj Khanna, Chairman, EPCH; Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Director General in the role of Chief Mentor, EPCH and Chairman, IEML; Mr. Sagar Mehta, Vice Chairman, EPCH; Mr. Avdesh Agarwal, President, IHGF Delhi Fair – Autumn 2026 Reception Committee; Vice Presidents, IHGF Delhi Fair – Autumn 2026 Reception Committee – Mr. Pradip Muchhala, Mr. Priyesh Bhandari, Mr. Rajesh Kumar Jain, Mr. Salman Azam, Mr. R B Lahoti; Mr. Rajesh Rawat Executive Director, EPCH; prominent overseas buyers, buying agents from India as well as leading member exporters of EPCH. This edition has brought together 3000+ exhibitors in 17 dedicated halls for elaborate display segments of home, lifestyle, fashion, furnishing, furniture and interior products. Besides exhibitor booths in the halls, visitors have access to the 900 Marts/permanent showrooms of leading exporters, located on various levels of the India Expo Centre that are all decked up and replenished for the sourcing days.
Dr. Neeraj Khanna, Chairman, EPCH, welcomed the gathering to the fair and wished all exhibitors and participants success. He encouraged them to continue promoting Indian handicrafts and textiles in international markets. “It is a privilege to welcome all participants to the IHGF Delhi Fair, which carries forward our illustrious journey with each successive edition, offering a rich sourcing platform for some of India’s finest crafts. Each edition creates new business opportunities, builds buyer relationships and showcases an expanding product range.” Speaking about buyer participation, he added, “In recent months, EPCH participated in major European fairs, connected with international buyers, and many accepted our invitations to attend this edition.”
Dr. Rakesh Kumar, Director General in the role of Chief Mentor, EPCH, and Chairman, IEML, welcomed the dignitaries and highlighted the importance of MSMEs, rural handicrafts and artisans to the industry. He appreciated the initiatives of the Union Minister of Textiles, particularly the ‘JalKumbhi’ project promoting water hyacinth crafts, which has benefited artisans and exhibitors. He also acknowledged the contribution of Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Government of India, Mr. Pabitra Margherita, to EPCH and the handicrafts sector. He announced that the reduction in minimum stall setup charges from Rs. 8,500 to Rs. 2,500 had contributed to a 22% increase in registrations, as exhibitors were urged to use the savings to enhance buyer hospitality, product & display design and improve the experience of international visitors.
Mr. Sagar Mehta, Vice Chairman, EPCH said, “Our exhibitors have invested considerable effort in product design and development to reflect evolving market trends and international buyer preferences. The enthusiastic response from buyers visiting in large numbers reflects the positive sentiment surrounding this edition, with both new and returning visitors contributing to the momentum.” Adding to this, Mr. Avdesh Agarwal, President, IHGF Delhi Fair–Autumn 2026 Reception Committee, shared, “Each edition acts as a dynamic catalyst for new business opportunities — fostering fresh buyer relationships while showcasing an ever-evolving and expanding product spectrum. Evolving in step with global sourcing trends and shifting buyer expectations, this edition showcases greater product diversity, deeper buyer–seller engagement and a pronounced focus on design-led, value-added offerings.”
Commenting on opening-day footfall, Mr. Pradip Muchhala, Vice President, IHGF Delhi Fair–Autumn 2026 Reception Committee, said, “The event is progressing with strong participation from overseas buyers, buying houses, agents and domestic volume purchasers. New partnerships are taking shape alongside longstanding associations, as buyers explore innovative product lines from first-time suppliers and trend-forward collections from returning exhibitors.”
Mr. Priyesh Bhandari, Vice President, IHGF Delhi Fair–Autumn 2026 Reception Committee, said, “The sustained trust and participation of international buyers in EPCH events for over three decades underline the fair’s enduring significance. This edition has opened amid a vibrant atmosphere, with strong footfall across exhibition halls and meaningful business engagements throughout the day.”
“The fair began on a vibrant note, with active buyer registrations, bustling halls and meaningful business engagements, reflecting the continued trust of international buyers.” Mr. Rajesh Kumar Jain, Vice President, IHGF Delhi Fair–Autumn 2026 Reception Committee, added
Mr. Salman Azam, Vice President, IHGF Delhi Fair–Autumn 2026 Reception Committee, highlighted the fair’s focus on encouraging new ventures and enabling artisans and exporters to present design-led collections. He also outlined the knowledge sessions scheduled over the next three days, covering Global Buyer Trends 2027: Home, Lifestyle, Fashion & Interiors; AI in Production and Sourcing: A Guide for Exporters; AI, GEO & AEO: From Online Visibility to Global Orders; EUDR Compliance and Supply-Chain Traceability; EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR): Compliance for Exporters; India’s FTAs: Market Access and Sourcing Opportunities; and Export Promotion Mission: Financial and Market Support.
“Against the backdrop of India’s sustained economic growth, IHGF Delhi Fair continues to expand export outreach, open new markets and foster lasting international business relationships.” He added that the fair is expected to attract buyers from over 100 countries, alongside sourcing consultants, representatives of leading Indian retail and online brands, and domestic volume buyers, reinforcing its position as a leading global sourcing destination.” Mr. R. B. Lahoti, Vice President, IHGF Delhi Fair–Autumn 2026 Reception Committee, said
Mr. Rajesh Rawat, Executive Director, EPCH, remarked, “Each edition creates new business opportunities and strengthens buyer relationships while broadening product offerings. In response to evolving global sourcing trends and buyer preferences, this edition features greater product diversity, stronger buyer–seller engagement and a sharper focus on design-led, value-added collections.”
EPCH is a nodal institute for promoting exports of handicrafts from the Country to various destinations of the world and projecting India’s image abroad as reliable supplier of high quality of handicrafts. The overall Handicraft exports during the year 2025-26 was Rs. 33,168 Crores (US $ 3,754 Million) as informed by Mr. Rajesh Rawat, Executive Director, EPCH.
