Over 350 overseas buyers and 276 buying representatives have participated in the India Carpet Expo began at Varanasi from October 12.

A delegation from Yiwu city of China visited the Expo yesterday on an invitation from Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC). Wang Bi Rong, director general bureau of commerce led the eight-member delegation to study the qualities of Indian handmade carpets displayed at the expo by 303 exporters from all over India.

The delegation from CEPC was led by its chairman Kuldeep R. Wattal accompanied by all members of committee of administration of the Council. The Chinese delegation was very excited to visit the Expo and informed that they witnessed a very high quality in Indian handmade carpets, which they did not find in China. The delegation was confident that the Indian handmade carpets would get a very good response in Yiwu City. After the Expo, the delegation members will discuss with CEPC in arriving at a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for promoting and selling Indian handmade carpets in Yiwu. Wattal expressed the hope that such collaborations would give a boost to export of Indian carpets to China.

While thanking CEPC for hosting such an event, Rong expressed the desire to have a strong representation of Indian Handmade Carpet Exporters in Yiwu City in their May 2016 show. CEPC chairman also appreciated the efforts of the Chinese delegation in making Indian carpets popular in China adding that China will be one of their major business partner countries in coming times.

Some of the leading buyers from US, U.K., Brazil, South Africa and other European countries who visited the fair spoke very encouragingly about the display of various handmade carpets, floor coverings and arrangements made by the organizers.