Thiru Dayanidhi Maran, Union Textiles Minister, inaugurated the 21st edition of “India Carpet Expo” here today in the presence of Tmt. Panabaaka Lakshmi, Minister of State for Textiles.

After inaugurating the Expo , Thiru Maran and Tmt Panabaaka Lakshmi went around and visited several stalls.

India Carpet Expo, which is organized by Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC), is the largest fair of Handmade woolen, silk, carpets, rugs and floor-coverings.  The Expo will remain open from 3rd o 5th March, 2011.  This will be followed by an Exhibition-Buyer Seller Meet on 6-7 March, 2011 in Jaipur.  More than 176 Exhibitors of Handmade Carpets and other floor coverings from UP, Rajasthan, J&K, Panipat, Delhi etc are displaying their latest designs of Handmade carpets and other floor coverings.  200 overseas buyers from USA, UK, Germany, Canada, France, Italy, South Africa etc. have confirmed their participation in the Expo.

BACKGROUND  OF INDIA CARPET INDUSTRY:-
 
The Indian Handmade carpet Industry is an age old and has made significant strides in the recent past and export of carpets in 2009-10 and 2010-11 are:

            2009-10           -           US$ 525.87 Million

            2010-11           -           US$ 503.57 Million

            (April- January).

 
The CEPC is expecting to achieve the target of US $ 650 Million for the year 2010-11.  India is top most producer and exporter of Handmade Carpet in the world.  The industry is highly labour-intensive and provides employment to over 2.5 Million workers in the rural areas. The Indistry is highly concentrated in States like Uttar Pradesh, J&K, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, H.P. etc. The Industry provides huge value addition.  Wages constitute 40% to 50% of the cost. 50% of the export earning is directly injected for poverty alleviation.

Indian Carpet Industry is the only one in the world which offers customs made rugs and carpets.  The pattern, color, size are all manufactured according to the requirements of the overseas buyer.

RM/JL

(Release ID :70478)