The Consulate General of India, Frankfurt in association with Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC) & Messe Frankfurt organised an India Day Seminar on the sidelines of Heimtextil 2014 under the title “Contribution of Indian Handlooms in Modern Home Furnishing Globally” on 9 January 2013. The seminar, which marked the first India Day seminar ever held at Heimtextil was initiated by the Consulate General of India, Frankfurt in order to enhance the bilateral trade in the handloom sector. 

The seminar was attended by over 60 participants of the Indian and German handloom and textile industry. It commenced with welcome remarks by Mr. Raveesh Kumar, Consul General of India, Frankfurt. In his inaugural address, the chief guest of the Seminar Dr. Kavuru Sambasiva Rao, Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, Government of India highlighted the need for the two countries to cooperate in enhancing cooperation in the textile industry. Mr. Martin Auerbach, Managing Director, Association of German Hometextile Industry and Mr. Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles & Textile Technologies, Messe Frankfurt also spoke on the occasion. Mr. Balvinder Kumar, Development Commissioner (Handlooms) gave an overview of the handloom sector in India in his speech. Presentations were made by Dr. Beela Rajesh, Executive Director, HEPC; and Mr.R.K Dalmia, Deputy Chairman, TEXPROCIL.

On the sidelines of his visit, Dr. Kavuru Sambasiva Rao, Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, along with the official delegation, had meetings with Dr.Klaus Jurgen Kraatz, Chief Executive, IVGT (Germany’s biggest textile association) and Mr.Jorg Diek Mann, Director, International Sales Hohenstein Textile Institute.

India has the largest handloom infrastructure in the world with 2.37 million looms and produces handloom products from a range of fibres like cotton, silk, jute, wool and synthetic blends. The strength of the Indian handloom sector lies in innovative, intricate design, which cannot be replicated by other sectors. For the year 2012-13, export of handloom products were US$ 520 million. Top 10 countries importing handloom products were U.S.A., U.K., Germany, Australia, France, U.A.E., Japan, Italy, South Africa and Canada. Top five export products of Handlooms were linen & kitchen linen, of terry toweling or similar terry fabrics, mats and matting including bath mats, table cloth and table covers,other furnishing articles and other table linen.

Dr. Kavuru Sambasiva Rao, Hon’ble Minister of Textiles, making the inaugural address at the ‘India Day Seminar’ on January 9, 2013.