New Delhi – November 27, 2011 –The thematic display of Indian handicrafts, ‘Magic of Gifted Hands’ set up by Ministry of Textiles at IITF 2011 has bagged a Gold Medal in a display contest held at IITF 2011. This was announced at an award ceremony function held by India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) at the Shakuntalam Theatre at PragatiMaidan today. The award was presented by Shri Rajiv Khullar, Commerce Secretary, Govt. of India to Ministry of Textiles and received by Development Commissioner (Handicraft) Shri S.S. Gupta. 

A masterwork jointly developed by National Centre for Design and Product  Development (NCDPD) and Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), the Thematic Display of Indian handicrafts, ‘Magic of Gifted Hands’, was an effort to showcase the diversity, strength and inherent beauty of the Indian handicrafts to vast national and international audience. The display had been inaugurated on the 14th of this month by Union Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister Anand Sharma. 

The thematic display consisted of programmes which included Craft Exchange Programme, Theme Pavilions, Buyer-Seller Congregation and International Seminar. The National Centre for Design and Product  Development (NCDPD) & Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH)  jointly held these programmes with the support and collaboration of  Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) and Ministry of Textiles. Handicrafts exporters from across the country were given an opportunity through these progrmames to display the products they export and interact directly with foreign buyers, manufacturers, traders, artisans etc. A total of 50 exporters were given space at a pavilion with the aim of providing a boost to the export of handicrafts as a part of the Buyer Seller meet. A specific number of exporters from Rajasthan were given a special opportunity and space at the Buyer-Seller meet.

The Craft Exchange Program while allowing artisans / craft persons to discuss in detail between themselves, the knowledge and the art involved in the different crafts also enabled them to directly interact with the overseas buyers and consumers and show them live demonstration of the processing of the crafts. 22 master crafts persons from all over the country and five Sri Lankan crafts persons participated in the Craft Exchange Program.