INDIA: Carpet exports recovering

"The carpet industry is reviving as the demand in European market is picking up," the minister said, after inaugurating the event in the presence of Minister of State for Textiles Panabaaka Lakshmi and Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Rita Menon.

Maran said "We are very happy to inaugurate this carpet exhibition and buyer-seller meet. Last year the buyers came to this event was only 200, but today we are happy that more than 300 buyers have already registered for the event. So it shows that the economy is reviving."

"Most of the carpets are being exported to EU and US and to see the increasing number of buyers from EU and US gives us a signal that recession there is over. Month on month the carpet industry is reviving and showing a positive trend now," he added.

However according to the CEPC data, in the month of April to January 2008-09 the carpet exports was USD 413.30 ml and in the same month of the year 2009-10 was USD 406.11 ml, which shows a decline of about 1.73 percent. But has shown the growth of 8.5 percent in January compare to the previous month.

Responding to a question on stimulus packages, the Textiles Minister said, "Three stimulus packages given by the government have helped the textiles industry a lot. That is the reason, this industry has been able to revive along with the revival in the economies of Europe."

On Textiles exports, Maran said, "we were negative 15 percent, now we are showing 5-7 percent growth. Overall month-on-month, we can say we are positive but overall we are still negative."

The India Carpet Expo 2010 is the world acclaimed established exhibition of Handmade carpets and other floor covering in South East Asia where more than 240 exhibitors from various parts of the nation are displaying their latest design of handmade carpets and other floor coverings.

More than 360 overseas buyers from all over the world including USA, UK, Germany, Canada, France, Italy, and South Africa have registered with council confirming their visit to the Expo.

Meanwhile, Chairman, CEPC, Ashok Jain who was also present on the occassion told SME Times, "You can say only 40 percent market is reviving. US is the major buyer of Indian carpets, about 60 percent of total exports. When the US market will recover that will be a major boom in the sector."

Exhibit product range includes - exclusive handmade carpets and floor coverings of all types-woolen, silk, cotton & synthetic, hand knotted, hand tufted and many more. Meanwhile the visitors profile includes carpet manufacturers, carpet importers, Handloom Houses and Emporiums.

When asked what is the motive of event, Jain said, "The India Carpet Expo 2010, upholding the prime motive of the council, is not only bringing the largest business opportunity to all segments of carpet exporters, beginning from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to the biggest exporters, but it also provides unique pick and choose business opportunity to all kinds of overseas carpet buyers under one roof."

Jain said, "These type of events are very helpful to small and medium enterprises because they can't go to every nation to meet buyer or can't participate in international events. So for them (SMEs), it is a very good exposure. They can have more value for their products."

"Out of 240 participants, more than 90 percent are small and medium exporters," he added.