Noida: The 61st edition of the Indian Handicrafts and Gifts (IHGF) Delhi Spring Fair commenced with an inaugural preview event on Friday, giving a firsthand look at the export-ready collections. The five-day fair will be open to visitors from Feb 14 to Feb 18 at the Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida.Union textile minister Giriraj Singh, who inaugurated the B2B (business-to-business) fair, said that the country’s small artisans and weavers will soon be directly connected via the hub and export model. “We will collaborate with small artisans and weavers, and will try to build our presence in Europe too. This will enable India’s handloom, handicrafts and textiles industry to reach new heights”, he added. Organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), the bi-annual fair represents over 10,000 manufacturers and exporters of handicrafts from across India.This year’s fair places a spotlight on crafts from Bihar and Chhattisgarh, with a special focus on the furniture segment, featuring over 350 furniture exhibitors.Chairman of EPCH, Dr Neeraj Khanna said the fair offers a range of export-ready furniture and related home categories, enabling global buyers to explore design depth, materials, and craftsmanship.Khanna added that the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), has enhanced market access and trade opportunities. “The recently signed India-EU Free Trade Agreement further strengthens India’s trade framework, particularly benefiting the handicrafts sector in European markets,” he said.The fair also features a ‘trend booth’ and curated collections from select handloom weavers in India’s North-Eastern states. The Young Designers’ Collective is another highlight, showcasing designers from institutions like NID Ahmedabad, NIFT, and the Royal College of Art, London.
