Jodhpur. Handicrafts Export Promotion Council (EPCH) organized an important awareness seminar in Jodhpur today. During this period, new dates of the 61st IHGF-Delhi Fair (Spring version) were announced. Now this fair will be held from 14 to 18 February 2026 at India Expo Center and Mart in Greater Noida. This time the special focus of the fair will be on furniture.
The seminar discussed a serious discussion on the challenges faced by the European Union’s new forest harvesting regulation (EUDR) and the American tariff. EPCH President Dr. Neeraj Khanna said that Indian exporters were made aware on the challenges related to following the EUDR rules.
EPCH Director General Dr. Rakesh Kumar said that the recently implemented tariffs by the US may reduce Indian exports to one-third, as the US buys more than 40% of our total exports. Dr. Rakesh Kumar urged to diversify the market to deal with this challenge and increase his presence in new areas like the European Union, Middle East and Latin America.
Workshop on Design and Technology:
A design and technology development workshop (DDW) was also inaugurated on metal crafts during this period. Its purpose is to increase the technical skills of the artisans and innovate in the products.
Special ‘Furniture Edition’ of the fair:
EPCH President Dr. Neeraj Khanna said that the 61st edition of the IHGF-Delhi fair will be held as ‘Special Furniture Edition’. He made a special appeal to the exporters of Jodhpur and said that they should increase their global business using this platform.
EPCH Executive Director R.K. Of. Verma said that during 2024-25, India’s total handicraft exports were ₹ 33,123 crore, of which the export of wooden handicrafts was more than ₹ 8,524 crore. This seminar and fair will help the Indian handicraft industry find new opportunities amid global challenges.
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