The 28th Indian Carpet Expo organized to provide an opportunity for traders to directly deal with buyers has began today in Varanasi. Manufacturers from Varanasi, Bhadohi, Panipat, Mirzapur, Jaipur, Srinagar and Agra will exhibit wide range of hand-knitted, tufted carpets and floor coverings at the expo.

Around 400 carpet importers from 57 countries, including Australia, Brazil, China, Russia, Germany, Britain and US are expected to participate. Buyers from countries like Bulgaria, Malaysia, Israel, Mauritius, Thailand and other 14 countries would also attend the expo.

Carpet Export Promotion Council has organized this expo under the aegis of Union ministry of commerce. The organizers would offer reimbursement of $500 for return air-ticket as well as free accommodation for two nights for potential buyers.

The guest of honour would be SSU vice-chancellor Prithvish Nag and textiles secretary Sanjay Kumar Panda will inaugurate the event.

Ex-Chairman Siddhant Singh said that the rate of exports has increased and currently they have reached Rs 7,010 crores witnessing around 21% growth. Priorities have also been given to women in handicrafts and in the coming two years the growth rate is expected to cross 50%.

The present government might be better in other aspects but in terms of banking they are relatively slow. He also mentioned that the UP government is not co-operative in terms of providing them space to organize the expo.

CEPC Chairman, Kuldeep R Wattal complaining about space for organising the expo said that it would have been better if the event was held in Sanskrit Shankul which is far-stretched as compared to the Sanskrit University. He highlighted the problems associated in conducting the expo and said that the interest rates are around 12% but since April, the interest submension is not fixed which used to be around 3%. On the other hand, the service tax is around 12.50% but even this is being overlooked by the government. As far as the appeal for Krishi Udyog is concerned, the government is still in doldrums about it.

The prime motive behind holding Carpet Expo in Varanasi is to provide business opportunities to all the carpet buyers and have made arrangement to see that the carpet importers and manufacturer-exporters are equipped with proper business environment.

The event will last for 3 days start from October 10 to 13 and is held at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University (SSU) in Varanasi