INDIA CARPET EXPO HELD
OCT. 3 TO 6 IN VARANASI

 Mrs. Panabaaka Lakshmi, center, India's  Minister of State for Textiles inaugurates the India Carpet Expo in Varanasi. Others in photo are, from left to right: Siddh Nath Singh, convenor, Sub-Committee on ICE, Ashok Jain, Chairman, CEPC, Umesh Kumar Gupta, Member COA, CEPC, and Gulam Nabi Bhat, Member COA, CEPC.

VARANASI, INDIA --  A total of 246 overseas buyers attended the India Carpet Expo (ICE), held here Oct 3 to 6.

Handmade rug buyers came to the Expo from the US, Germany, France, UK, Brazil, Japan, Argentina, Chile, Denmark, Sweden, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Namibia.

"There was a substantial increase in the number of buyers compared to last year's event here, when 191 buyers visited," according to the Carpet Expo Promotional Council, which organized the event.

The Expo was opened by Mrs. Panabaaka Lakshmi, India's  Minister of State for Textiles. Representatives of Carpet Industry, Central and State Government, overseas customers, exhibitors and media were also present for the opening ceremonies.

The ICE was a showcase of all types of handmade floor coverings. There were 203 exhibitors from India's  Bhadohi-Mirzapur carpet producing belt which includes Agra, Delhi, Panipat, Jaipur, Bikaner, Jammu and Kashmir. The exhibitors displayed their products in an area of 5,400 square meters (17,716 sq. ft.)
 

"The buyers indicated a positive trend to help the carpet industry in arresting the declining trend of export of carpets and other floor coverings," according to a CEPC spokesman. "The Varanasi India Carpet Expo thus proved to be a great success as it showcased carpets from traditional Oriental styles to modern, innovative and contemporary rugs."

Siddh Nath Singh, head of the CEPC's sub-committee on ICE, and Ashok Jain, chairman of the CEPC thanked the overseas customers  for showing keen interest in visiting the India Carpet Expo.

"They also thanked all exhibitors for showcasing their products according to the taste and requirement of overseas customers thus reflecting the current trend in every segment of carpet and floor covering industry," according to the CEPC.

The event took place in Sampurnanand Sanskrit University Ground under the aegis of the Government of India. The CEPC  subsidized  air travel expenses and provided  buyers with two nights stay in Hotel The Gateway Ganges, Radisson, Ramdha and Hotel Hindustan International.

 
General view of the ICE event

10.15.09