INDIA GIFT FAIR HOPES TO GROW AS SOURCING VENUE FOR THE U.S.(The Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair)(fair to promote the country as a destination for sourcing and exporting home furnishings)

HFN: The Weekly Newspaper for the Home Furnishing Network, March, 2004 by Webb, Carla

NEW DELHI, India-The Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair kicked off here late last month with the hopes of promoting the country as a destination for sourcing and exporting home furnishings products to the world, especially to the U.S. market.

"The U.S. is a big market," said Meenakshi Dhingra, chief executive officer of Heritage India Exports, which exports wood furniture and such home decor items as wall mirrors, frames, candlesticks and baskets. "No other country can compete with its buying capacities. We are always trying to do more business with the U.S."

According to Rakesh Kumar, executive director of the Indian Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts, or EPCH, which sponsors the fair, the United States is India's largest market, and one that...