PTI

Indian handicrafts exhibition starts today in Argentina

Thu, Nov 5 09:21 PM

New Delhi, Nov 5 (PTI) The 10-day-long ''Festival of India'' kicked off today at Buenos Aires in Argentina, with an aim to promote the country''s handicrafts exports and to develop their brand image in the global market. The second edition of the event, which has been organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts in coordination with the Indian Embassy in Buenos Aires, was inaugurated in the presence of Argentina Industry Minister Debora Giorgi.

The major attractions at the event are handcrafted products which include textiles, furnishings, costume jewellery, accessories, furniture and eco-friendly items. To promote India as an attractive tourist destination, a special promotion has been done by the India Tourism Development Corporation.

The festival is also showcasing the country''s culture, traditions, history and food. The US followed by EU, Middle East, Far East and Caribbean countries are among the major markets for India''s handicrafts sector, which employs close to one million people.

The US accounts for 38 per cent of the total kitty, followed by Germany 14 per cent and UK 10 per cent. The handicraft exports, which saw a decline much before the global financial crisis erupted in the middle of 2008, have reversed in September 2009 by registering a healthy growth of 177 per cent.

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