Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts EPCH HOUSE, POCKET 6 & 7, SECTOR 'C', LOCAL SHOPPING CENTRE, VASANT KUNJ, NEW

DELHI-110070 Tel: 91-11-26135256 Email :focusregion@epch.comFax: 91-11-26135518,26135519 web : www.epch.in

REPORT ON AWARENESS SEMINAR ON “OPPORTUNITY AND EXPORT STRATEGIES FOR HANDICRAFTS PRODUCTS IN COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES (CIS) COUNTRIES”, AND THE RETAIL EVOLUTION - OPPORTUNITY FOR HANDICRAFTS SECTOR” ON 17TH OCTOBER, 2015”, AT THE BOARD ROOM, GROUND FLOOR, INDIA EXPO CENTRE AND MART, GREATER NOIDA

The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts conducted number of seminars for its member

exporters to educate them on new and emerging issues related to exports during the IHGF

Delhi Fair autumn 2015. On 17th October, the Council organised a seminar on two very

important issues. First, Opportunity and Export Strategies for Handicrafts Products in

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Countries”, and second “The Retail Evolution -

Opportunity for Handicrafts Sector at India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida

The speaker for the first topic was Dr. Tamanna Chaturvedi, Assistant Professor, of

prestigious Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi. The speaker for the

second topic was Mr. Vikram Chitnis, from one of India’s well known organised

retailer Shoppers Stop.

Dr. Tamanna Delivering lecture

The very recent rise of CIS region has been one of the defining features of the global

economy in the recent time. India’s trade has also increased with these countries. The same

is also true in case of Indian Handicrafts sector’s export. Countries like Russia; Ukraine

Kazakhstan has emerged as important destinations for Handicrafts export from India in CIS

region in recent years. Many countries which were not importing Handicrafts from India

earlier have shown interest in Indian products.

The speaker emphasized that exploring new markets is not easy; as it requires planning, market

research and attention to detail. It may also involve changes, like new packaging and metric

conversion. The mystery can be taken out of exporting by considering some of the fundamental

elements of the export process:

1. analyze the capabilities of your small business;

2. know the export potential of your product/service;

3. locate the foreign markets that are right for you;

4. study market entry strategies and export procedures; and

5. Learn how to process exports.

Mr. Vikram Chitnis interacting with the audience The impact of globalization can be seen in middle class Indian households. Not surprisingly,

shopping patterns for many of these consumers have also changed. Modern trade—driven by

better value offerings, better promotions through big day sales, wider assortment and better

shopping experience—is rapidly growing. The number of shoppers visiting modern trade

outlets has doubled over the past five years. In fact, among those families frequenting MT,

almost 50 percent of family purchases come from this channel. The implication is obvious:

Shoppers can be influenced inside stores. Since the modern trade demographic is largely

middle to premium-end consumers, we believe it has potential to drive successful innovations

among target consumer groups.

Mr Chitnis emphasised on how to make proper use of modern retail stores to increase sale of

handicrafts products both domestically and internationally. He told the audience that they can

tie up with big organised retailers to showcase and sale the handicrafts products.

Participant listening to the lecture